Archive of Our Own

The shiny golden plate on the door stared back at Seungmin. 709, his apartment number. His new apartment number. His house-the one he'd spent countless sleepless nights working to buy.

Seungmin exhaled, then smiled. A proud feeling spread through his chest. This was his first home.

Though for him, every place was home, as long as his son was by his side.

His son.

Kim Seunghyun.

A little ball of sunshine, and Seungmin's inspiration to do better every single day. Seunghyun was one of the reasons that kept him going.

Seungmin took the apartment key out of his pocket, unable to hide the pride on his face. He had spent a long time searching for the perfect place, and after considering all the facilities and security, he had chosen this one.

He had already visited the apartment several times while moving his belongings, but today would be the first time they would actually live here.

Seungmin glanced at his son.

Seunghyun was jumping around excitedly, looking even happier than Seungmin himself.

"Appa, is this our new house?" Seunghyun asked with a wide smile, tightly holding his puppy plush.

Seungmin crouched down to his height and gently patted his hair.

"Yes, Hyun."

The sound of a door opening caught both Seungmin's and Seunghyun's attention, though Seunghyun's focus quickly shifted to the dog that walked out of the apartment.

A man stepped out after it. The dog must be his, Seungmin thought.

Apparently, their apartment was directly across from Seungmin's.

New neighbours.

The man looked... strange.

His eyes were half-lidded. He was dressed in a black tank top, black shorts, and a black cap. His expression remained unreadable.

He smelled of alcohol.

Their eyes met, but neither of them spoke.

Seungmin didn't like him.

He tore his gaze away from the man and looked at his son instead.

Seunghyun was happily petting the dog, and to his surprise, the dog seemed to enjoy the attention.

Which was rather strange.

But Seunghyun had always been good with animals. Maybe he had inherited that from Seungmin. Animals simply seemed to like Seunghyun, perhaps because of his innocent and kind nature.

Not to mention how many times Seungmin had turned down Seunghyun's request for a puppy.

It wasn't that he disliked the idea.

But with his busy work schedule, making enough time for Seunghyun was already difficult.

He couldn't afford to take care of a puppy on top of everything else.

And he didn't trust leaving both a young child and a puppy alone with a nanny while he was away.

Even leaving Seunghyun with a nanny made him feel guilty.

He was the one who should be taking care of his son.

But there wasn't much he could do.

His current job paid him well-far more than he could earn working from home.

That was the very reason he left for work early every morning and continued working late into the night after returning home.

At least this way, he could spend as much time with Seunghyun as possible.

The stranger followed Seungmin's gaze before looking at his dog.

"Berry," he said, his voice hoarse.

"Berry... like strawberry," Seunghyun giggled.

Seungmin smiled at the innocent comment, though the stranger didn't seem amused.

Not wanting to offend him, Seungmin gently pulled Seunghyun to his side.

"I apologize for my son's behaviour, Mr.-"

"Chan."

"Mr. Chan."

"Fine," the man-Chan-said shortly.

He gave a small nod before walking toward the elevator, Berry following quietly behind without being told.

A well-trained dog.

Chan disappeared as the elevator doors closed.

Seungmin didn't think much of it, but one thing was certain.

He didn't like this man's vibe.

He was too rude.

And the fact that he reeked of alcohol only reinforced Seungmin's first impression.

Seungmin wasn't someone who judged people too quickly.

But he had to admit...

Chan didn't make it difficult.

And the fact that Chan was now his neighbour made him feel slightly uneasy.

Seungmin unlocked the door.

The apartment came into view.

It looked much more like a home than it had a week ago.

Seunghyun practically ran inside, excitedly exploring every corner of the apartment.

Seungmin let out a relieved sigh as he sat down on the couch.

Finally.

"Don't run around too much, Hyun, or you'll get hurt," he called.

Seunghyun immediately ran back toward him with a bright smile.

Seungmin lifted him onto his lap and gently patted his hair.

"Do you like the new house?" he asked.

"I like it sooooo much!" Seunghyun answered, stretching his arms out as wide as he could.

Seungmin chuckled at the adorable gesture.

"What do you want to eat?" he asked, glancing at the time. It was almost dinner.

"Pizza and mushrooms."

"You mean pizza with mushrooms."

Seunghyun nodded.

"Okay. But only for today," Seungmin said with a slightly warning look.

Seungmin had always preferred cooking rather than ordering food.

Ordering once in a while was fine, but he didn't want it to become a habit for Seunghyun.

Today was one of the rare exceptions.

He was exhausted after a long day at work, then picking Seunghyun up from Felix's house.

Not to mention he still had work waiting for him.

"I want ice cream too," Seunghyun added.

"Not now. You'll catch a cold. I'll buy you one tomorrow."

"But I want it now."

Seunghyun whined dramatically, rolling across the couch.

Seungmin sighed.

"Okay. But only one."

"I want two."

"Only ONE."

"...Okay."

Seunghyun pouted.

By the time they finished dinner, Seunghyun was already sleepy.

Seungmin changed him into his pajamas before making the bed.

Today had been exhausting.

He took a picture book from the shelf before sitting beside Seunghyun.

Time for bedtime stories.

He opened the book.

It was about a dog.

The story immediately reminded him of what had happened earlier.

Chan and his dog, Berry.

No matter how adorable Berry was, the owner didn't seem reliable.

Seungmin looked at Seunghyun.

He remembered how much his son had liked the dog.

He should tell him to stay away.

He had to.

Seungmin cleared his throat.

"Hyun... Berry was cute, wasn't he?"

Seunghyun nodded enthusiastically.

"He was."

Seungmin smiled softly.

"But Hyun, Chan is our neighbour now. That means Berry is our neighbour too. Even if you want to see Berry, don't go there when I'm not home, okay?"

"Okay, appa."

"But can I meet Berry when you're home?"

"Sure. I'll talk to Chan. But you have to promise me you won't go there when I'm not around."

Seungmin wasn't actually planning on talking to Chan again.

Still, he had to reassure the curious little boy.

"I promise," Seunghyun chimed.

Seungmin smiled in relief.

He continued reading the story, and before long, Seunghyun drifted off to sleep.

Seungmin closed the book and placed it back on the shelf.

He leaned down and kissed Seunghyun's forehead.

After one last glanceat his sleeping son, he quietly left the room.

Settling onto the couch, Seungmin placed his laptop on his lap and his cup of coffee on the table.

Ready to finish the work he had left behind.

The night was going to be long.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

The next morning was both good and bad.

Seungmin hadn't slept well. He had worked until two in the morning, so he was still tired.

But waking up in his new home felt refreshing.

So refreshing that he almost forgot how exhausted he was.

Seungmin followed his usual routine-morning exercise, followed by making breakfast and packing lunch for both himself and Seunghyun.

By seven, he went to wake Seunghyun up for school and helped him get dressed. Though Seunghyun didn't need much help. For a four-year-old, he was far more independent than most children his age.

Seungmin got ready for work as well.

After they finished breakfast, he packed Seunghyun's school bag, and once everything was ready, they left the apartment together.

As always, Seungmin dropped Seunghyun off at school first.

Only after making sure Seunghyun had safely gone inside with Felix did he leave for his office.

Felix had always been one of the biggest blessings in Seungmin's life.

Not only was he Seungmin's closest friend, but he was also Seunghyun's homeroom teacher. That was one of the main reasons Seungmin had chosen this school for his son.

Felix had loved children for as long as Seungmin could remember. Becoming a teacher had always been his dream.

More than that, Felix was an incredibly kind-hearted, angelic soul. He had never once hesitated to help Seungmin. Even his boyfriend, Changbin, was a genuinely good person.

The two of them had always been there whenever Seungmin needed someone.

Seungmin would always be grateful for that.

Meanwhile, Seunghyun happily walked into his classroom with Felix.

He was especially cheerful today.

He had seen Berry that morning while leaving for school with his Appa.

The thought alone stayed with him throughout the day.

He spent the morning playing, studying, and drawing.

During art class, he drew Berry, because the fluffy dog was the only thing on his mind.

Later that afternoon, when his nanny, Mrs. Choi, arrived to pick him up, Seunghyun happily went home with her.

Mrs. Choi was a kind middle-aged woman.

She had been taking care of Seunghyun for the past two months.

When they reached the apartment, Berry's door was closed.

A little disappointed, Seunghyun went inside.

Mrs. Choi served him lunch, and afterward, he played with his toys for a while.

Eventually, he noticed that Mrs. Choi had fallen asleep on the couch.

Unsure of what to do, Seunghyun quietly wandered around the apartment.

Then...

He heard a bark outside.

His face immediately brightened.

Berry.

He hurried toward the front door, fumbling with the handle as curiosity got the better of him.

Opening it, he found Berry waiting outside.

He quickly ran over and happily patted the dog's head.

"Berry... do you want to play?" he asked.

Berry barked in response.

Taking that as a yes, Seunghyun quietly closed his apartment door behind him, careful not to wake Mrs. Choi.

Berry gently grabbed the hem of his shirt with his mouth and began pulling him toward the apartment across the hall.

Seunghyun burst into giggles.

The apartment was messy.

Actually, messy was too small a word to describe it.

Takeout boxes sat half-eaten on the table.

Clothes were scattered across the floor.

Empty beer cans were everywhere.

A cartoon played on the television, though Chan wasn't paying any attention to it.

He lay sprawled across the couch, absentmindedly scrolling through his phone.

Then he heard it.

Soft giggling.

Berry wasn't anywhere in sight.

And the front door...

...was open.

"Berry," Chan called.

When there was no response, he stood up and walked toward the entrance.

There he found Berry happily dragging a little boy inside by the edge of his T-shirt.

The child was giggling the entire time.

Chan frowned.

If he remembered correctly, this kid belonged to that man from yesterday.

The arrogant one.

So what was his kid doing here?

"What are you doing here?" Chan asked, watching Berry continue pulling the child into the apartment.

"Hello," Seunghyun greeted politely.

"Berry said he wants to play."

"He can't speak."

Chan raised an eyebrow.

Berry barked.

Seunghyun laughed.

"He can. He just said he wants to play."

"Go back to your house, kid."

Chan turned and walked back toward the couch.

"But I want to play."

Seunghyun pouted, giving Chan the best puppy eyes he could manage.

"Go back before your father gets angry."

Chan's voice turned a little sterner.

Kids were a headache.

Chan had always believed that.

His experiences with children had never been pleasant.

Not to mention, he somehow always managed to make them cry.

So yes...

Kids were annoying as hell.

And this one was no exception.

Especially when he was the son of that arrogant man.

Chan couldn't ignore the way that man had looked at him yesterday.

Though he had tried to be polite, Chan could tell the man disliked him.

Not that he cared.

People were free to hate him if they wanted.

He couldn't care less.

Still...

Something about that man's gaze-as if he were silently judging him-had annoyed Chan more than he cared to admit.

"Appa isn't home."

Seunghyun hugged the ball Berry had brought over.

"I can go back later."

Chan gritted his teeth.

Why was this kid so persistent?

Wasn't he scared of him?

"Then your mother will get angry," Chan said through clenched teeth.

"I don't have a mother."

The reply came quietly.

Chan froze.

His eyes shifted toward the little boy, who had already started tossing the ball with Berry, smiling as though nothing had happened.

Something about those simple words left Chan speechless.

For the first time since the child had entered his apartment...

He couldn't bring himself to tell him to leave.

A dull ache settled somewhere deep inside his chest.

Ignoring it, Chan simply sat back down on the couch.

He picked up a beer can and emptied it in one long drink.

"Can... I play here with Berry?" Seunghyun asked politely.

Chan glanced at the child.

Then at Berry.

The two looked genuinely happy.

"...Suit yourself."

With that, he lay back on the couch once more.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Chan had been wrong.

He thought that if he let the kid-Seunghyun, as he'd finally learned his name, though Chan still preferred calling him kid-stay that day, it would be a one-time thing.

He assumed Seunghyun wouldn't come back to play with Berry again.

Chan had always been terrible at guessing things.

Because that one-time thing didn't stay a one-time thing.

The very next day, Chan found Seunghyun standing outside his apartment with a bright smile.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, clearly annoyed.

"Berry said he missed me," Seunghyun replied innocently.

As if on cue, Berry came running the moment he heard Seunghyun's voice. The dog grabbed Chan's shorts with his mouth before tugging him aside, making room for Seunghyun to walk in.

Chan sighed in annoyance.

But he didn't say anything.

He simply watched as Seunghyun fed Berry dog biscuits before happily playing with him.

The little boy had even brought toys today.

So...

The one-time thing wasn't going to stay a one-time thing.

The next day, Berry brought Seunghyun over again.

Somewhere along the way, Chan found out that Seunghyun had a nanny who looked after him during the day.

Mrs. Choi.

And because she always slept soundly in the afternoons, Seunghyun used that time to quietly sneak out and visit Chan's apartment.

"You sneaked out again?" Chan asked, standing with his arms crossed in front of the little boy.

Seunghyun giggled.

"Berry brought me, Mr. Chan."

The corner of Chan's mouth lifted ever so slightly.

Without another word, he simply walked back inside.

The little visits soon became a habit.

Every afternoon, after Mrs. Choi fell asleep, Seunghyun would quietly sneak out of his apartment.

He spent the afternoon playing with Berry at Chan's place before returning home just before Mrs. Choi woke up.

Eventually...

Chan stopped complaining.

Without realizing it, he had begun making room for the little boy in his daily routine.

Seunghyun would play with Berry while Chan lazily watched television from the couch.

Even then, he always kept one eye on them, just in case they got into trouble.

It had happened once.

Chan had accidentally fallen asleep, and the two troublemakers had broken a glass.

He handled the situation before either Berry or Seunghyun could get hurt.

He hadn't scolded Seunghyun.

He knew it wasn't intentional.

Instead, he simply became a little more careful after that, making sure neither the little boy nor Berry would get hurt again.

Sometimes, Chan even found himself watching cartoons with Seunghyun.

Other times, he played with Berry alongside him.

Chan had never really noticed afternoons before.

They had always been quiet.

Now...

Whenever his apartment stayed silent for too long...

He found himself wondering why Seunghyun hadn't shown up yet.

Chan had to admit...

It would be a lie if he said he hadn't grown fond of the boy.

Only a little.

He still didn't like kids.

They were still annoying.

But somehow...

Seunghyun was the exception.

To Chan, Seunghyun seemed to be the only person who had never judged him.

The little boy never complained about how messy his apartment was.

He never questioned the way Chan lived.

He simply came over every day to play with Berry.

And before Chan even realized it...

His apartment no longer felt empty.

It became filled with laughter, tiny footsteps...

...and life.

The apartment didn't feel lonely anymore.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

The day couldn't have been any busier than it already was.

Seungmin sighed as he stepped out of the conference room.

To his relief, he was finally done with work for the day, which meant he could go home early and spend some time with Seunghyun.

And on top of that, tomorrow was the weekend.

A smile found its way onto Seungmin's face as he left the office.

Sliding into his car, he pulled out his phone and called Felix.

It had become part of his daily routine. Every day after work, he would call Felix just to make sure Mrs. Choi had picked Seunghyun up from school.

Not that he didn't trust Felix.

He knew Felix always made sure Seunghyun got home safely.

But a worried father would always worry.

Felix answered on the fourth ring.

Before Seungmin could say anything, Felix spoke first.

"Mrs. Choi picked Seunghyun up. He must be playing at home by now, so stop worrying."

His deep voice carried an amused smile.

Seungmin chuckled.

"Thanks. I just-"

"Can't help but worry," Felix finished for him.

"Yeah." Seungmin smiled. "But I think everything's good."

"Yup, mate. By the way, how are you? You didn't even come to see me today."

"Sorry about that." Seungmin sighed. "You know work is always hectic. Seunghyun is growing up, and I need to work hard to give him everything."

"You're always like this," Felix said. "Putting everything on your own shoulders. Don't stress yourself out too much."

"I'm not burdening myself." Seungmin laughed softly. "I just want to be a better father for him. I want to give him everything I couldn't have as a child."

"You already are a good father, Min."

The words made Seungmin smile.

"Thanks, Lixxie."

"Yeah, yeah. Just a 'thanks'? You bought a new apartment and didn't even invite me over for dinner. People really do forget their old friends once they get new ones."

Felix sniffled dramatically.

"Stop being such a drama queen." Seungmin laughed. "You know I don't have friends other than you and Changbin hyung. Come over tomorrow if you want."

"Deal!"

A pause.

"Oh, shit. I have to go. I've got something important to do."

"Alright. Bye."

"Bye, Min."

The call ended.

Seungmin slipped his phone back into his pocket and started the engine.

The drive home wasn't long.

After parking in the apartment garage, he headed toward the elevator.

As soon as he reached his floor, another smile spread across his face.

He had bought Seunghyun his favorite ice cream.

He couldn't wait to see his little boy's reaction.

Chuckling to himself, he rang the doorbell.

He waited.

Nothing.

Frowning, he rang it again.

This time, the door slowly opened.

Mrs. Choi stood there.

She looked... nervous.

Seungmin offered her a polite smile.

"I'll take over from here. You can leave early today."

He stepped inside.

Mrs. Choi hesitated.

She kept glancing around uneasily without saying a word.

Seungmin frowned.

"Is something wrong?"

"Seunghyun..."

Her voice trembled.

Seungmin paused.

"What about Hyun?"

He walked toward the kitchen and placed the ice cream in the freezer.

A crease formed between his brows.

Mrs. Choi's face turned pale.

She avoided his eyes.

"Seunghyun isn't... here."

The words barely left her lips.

Seungmin's eyes widened.

His work bag slipped from his hand and landed on the floor.

"What do you mean he isn't here?"

"He was here... I fed him lunch... then I..." Tears welled in her eyes.

"I fell asleep."

"And when I woke up..."

"He was gone."

"You fell asleep?"

Disappointment filled Seungmin's voice.

Then came panic.

His stomach twisted painfully.

No one knew where Seunghyun was.

Without another second to spare, Seungmin rushed toward the front door.

"Hyun!"

His voice echoed through the hallway.

"Seunghyun!"

Maybe he was still somewhere in the building.

He kept calling.

His voice became louder.

Rougher.

More desperate.

His eyes burned.

This was his fault.

If only he had paid more attention...

If only he had made sure Mrs. Choi could properly look after Seunghyun...

His son would have been safe.

No.

Standing here crying wouldn't help.

Someone had to have seen him.

Suddenly, Seungmin looked toward the apartment across the hall.

Chan.

Or maybe Berry.

They might know something.

He hurried over and knocked on Chan's door.

Please...

Please know where my son is.

---

Inside the apartment...

Chan was lying on the couch as usual, lazily watching cartoons.

His apartment was just as messy as ever.

Maybe even messier.

Seunghyun was lying on top of Berry on the rug, talking to the dog as though they were having a real conversation.

Berry barked every now and then, making it seem as if he truly understood every word.

How had the two of them become such good friends?

Chan wondered.

A loud knock interrupted his thoughts.

He frowned.

Other than Seunghyun, nobody ever visited him.

It had been years since someone had come knocking on his door.

Muttering under his breath, Chan stood up.

Another knock followed.

More desperate this time.

With an annoyed sigh, he opened the door.

Seungmin stood outside.

His eyes were red.

His hands trembled.

He looked seconds away from breaking down.

Chan immediately sensed something was wrong.

"Hyun..." Seungmin struggled to breathe.

"Seunghyun... isn't home..."

"Have you... seen him?"

His voice cracked with desperation.

Chan silently looked behind him.

Seunghyun immediately ran toward the entrance, Berry following close behind.

The little boy stopped beside Chan.

"Appa?"

Relief crashed into Seungmin so suddenly that it almost hurt.

And then...

Fear turned into anger.

He had told Seunghyun not to come here without him.

No...

He had taught him never to go anywhere without him.

"Hyun!"

Seungmin's voice came out much harsher than he intended.

"What are you doing here?"

"Didn't I tell you never to go anywhere when I'm not home?"

Seunghyun flinched.

His small body trembled as tears gathered in his eyes.

Chan sighed quietly.

He stepped aside, giving the little boy more space.

Seunghyun lowered his head.

He stared at his feet.

"Answer me."

This time, Seungmin's voice broke more than it shouted.

Berry stepped protectively in front of Seunghyun and barked.

The little boy burst into tears.

Without thinking, he hurried behind Chan and clung to him.

Not because he was afraid of Seungmin.

But because, somehow...

Chan felt safe.

The realization hit Seungmin like a truck.

His anger disappeared instantly.

What had he done?

His son wasn't the one at fault.

He was.

"Seunghyun."

Chan crouched down until they were eye level.

"Hey..."

His voice was much gentler than before.

"Why are you crying, kiddo?"

He wiped away the little boy's tears with his thumb.

Seunghyun only shook his head, sniffling.

"You are crying," Chan said with a quiet chuckle.

"Go to your father."

Seunghyun nodded.

Slowly, he walked toward Seungmin.

"I... I'm sorry, Appa..."

He sobbed.

Seungmin immediately pulled him into a tight embrace.

"No."

He closed his eyes.

"Appa is the one who's sorry."

"It's my fault."

Only after holding Seunghyun close did the fear finally leave his body.

He gently took his son's hand before turning toward Chan.

Then...

He bowed deeply.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Chan, for looking after my son."

"And I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble."

Chan stood there, speechless.

Berry quietly sat beside him.

Awkwardly, Chan scratched the back of his neck.

"It's... fine."

Seungmin smiled gratefully.

Then he left with Seunghyun.

Chan watched the apartment door close before letting out a long sigh.

He looked down at Berry.

"His father is even weirder than he is."

Berry barked.

Chan smiled and gently patted the dog's head.

---

Back inside Apartment 709...

Mrs. Choi had already left.

The apartment was quiet.

Seungmin sat down on the couch with Seunghyun on his lap.

The little boy's eyes were still red from crying.

A dull ache settled in Seungmin's chest.

He had been the reason those tears fell.

"I'm sorry, Appa..."

Seunghyun whispered before wrapping his little arms around him.

Seungmin smiled sadly.

"I'm just glad you're safe."

He kissed the top of his son's forehead.

"But why did you go there?"

"I wanted to play with Berry."

The answer came in a tiny voice.

"What did you play?"

A bright smile instantly returned to Seunghyun's face.

"We played ball!"

"And then we drew together!"

Seungmin smiled.

"Was it fun?"

Seunghyun nodded enthusiastically.

"Mr. Chan plays with us sometimes."

"We watch cartoons together too."

"He does?"

Seungmin asked, genuinely surprised.

Another eager nod.

"He was grumpy before."

"He told me to go home."

"You shouldn't call elders grumpy," Seungmin corrected gently.

"But he's nice."

"And Berry is nice too."

"Berry is my best friend."

Seungmin looked at him for a moment.

"Did you go there every day?"

Seunghyun nodded nervously.

"Mrs. Choi sleeps..."

"So I play with Berry."

Instead of scolding him again, Seungmin simply smiled reassuringly.

"I see."

"...Can I play with Berry tomorrow?"

Seungmin looked at his hopeful little face.

Then he nodded.

Seunghyun beamed.

Perhaps...

He had been wrong.

He shouldn't have judged someone's character so quickly.

Apparently...

He was terrible at it.

For now, though, all that mattered was that his son was home.

Safe.

And somehow...

Chan had taken good care of him.

The fact that Seunghyun trusted Chan enough to hide behind him made Seungmin wonder...

What was really hiding behind that grumpy face?

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

The next morning, Seungmin dismissed Mrs. Choi.

Not out of anger.

Only disappointment.

Mrs. Choi was a kind woman, but she had failed at the one responsibility she had been entrusted with.

Seungmin considered himself lucky that Seunghyun had only wandered over to Chan's apartment to play with Berry instead of going somewhere else.

The mere thought of his son roaming around alone, unable to find his way back home, unsettled him.

At least Seunghyun had formed a good bond with their neighbours.

Hearing how his son spent every afternoon with Chan and Berry reassured Seungmin that Chan truly was a good person.

The bright smile on Seunghyun's face was proof enough.

Now, Seungmin felt a little guilty for judging Chan's character so quickly.

Their first impression of each other hadn't been good.

But perhaps Seungmin had been too determined to prove himself right that he never looked beyond that first impression.

Seungmin let out a quiet sigh as he sat down on the couch, handing Felix a cup of coffee.

"Thanks," the blonde muttered before placing the mug on the table.

"What's wrong?"

He had already noticed the obvious frown on Seungmin's face.

"I dismissed Mrs. Choi this morning because of yesterday."

"And now you're worried about who'll look after Seunghyun?"

Felix glanced toward the little boy, who was happily stacking toy blocks nearby.

Seungmin followed his gaze and smiled before nodding.

Ever since waking up, the only thing Seunghyun had been saying was-

"I want to play with Berry."

Seungmin didn't mind that.

He had no problem with his son playing with Chan's dog.

But he couldn't simply send Seunghyun to someone else's apartment every morning, especially when he didn't know Chan's schedule.

"I don't know what to do," Seungmin admitted quietly, wrapping both hands around his coffee cup.

"Find another nanny. I'll help you."

Felix shrugged.

"It's not that easy. It'll take at least a week."

Seungmin sighed.

"And after what happened with Mrs. Choi... I don't want the same mistake to happen again."

Felix nodded in agreement.

Despite the smile on Seungmin's face, he knew his friend was anxious.

Yesterday had shaken him.

Right now, they simply needed someone trustworthy to stay with Seunghyun during the day.

Felix sank into thought.

Seungmin needed someone to look after his son.

Seunghyun already spent every afternoon at the neighbour's apartment anyway.

Suddenly...

An imaginary light bulb lit up above Felix's head.

A grin spread across his face.

"I've got it."

Seungmin looked at him curiously.

"What?"

"You told me Seunghyun keeps sneaking over to your neighbour's place to play with Berry, right?"

Seungmin nodded.

"Then ask your neighbour to look after him until you find a new nanny."

Felix looked rather proud of his own idea.

"No way."

Seungmin immediately shook his head.

"He'd never agree. Besides, I don't want to bother anyone."

"But you need time to find a nanny."

Felix leaned back.

"This is only temporary."

"He already looks after Seunghyun every afternoon anyway. I'm sure he'll understand."

Seungmin fell silent.

Felix actually had a point.

The idea wasn't bad.

Chan had unknowingly been taking care of Seunghyun all this time.

Maybe...

Just maybe...

There was a chance he would agree.

But what if he didn't?

That question lingered in Seungmin's mind.

Chan had every right to refuse.

Letting a child play in his apartment and actually taking responsibility for him were two completely different things.

Chan probably wouldn't want that kind of responsibility.

Still...

There was nothing wrong with asking.

Chan was his last option.

"Fine."

Seungmin finally sighed.

"I'll ask him."

"But there's still one problem."

"What?"

"Who'll pick Seunghyun up from school?"

"I can't ask Chan to do that too."

Felix visibly relaxed.

"That's easy."

"I'll bring him here every afternoon."

Seungmin's eyes brightened.

"Really?"

"Thank you so much! I love you!"

He happily threw his arms around Felix.

"Yeah, yeah."

Felix laughed.

"Just find a good nanny soon. Until then, I'll handle the school pickup."

"Deal."

Seungmin smiled.

"Now there's only one thing left to do."

---

Seungmin's heart pounded as he stood outside Chan's apartment.

Beside him, Seunghyun bounced excitedly, eager to see his best friend.

Chan opened the door after the second knock.

He looked as though he had just woken up.

His hair was messy, his clothes slightly wrinkled.

Seungmin decided not to comment on it.

Before either adult could say anything, Berry ran over and immediately dragged Seunghyun inside with a ball already waiting in his mouth.

Seungmin couldn't help smiling at the sight.

"Hello."

He bowed awkwardly.

Chan gave a small hum and returned the greeting.

When Seungmin didn't continue, Chan started closing the door.

"M-Mr. Chan."

Seungmin quickly stopped him.

"...What?"

Chan sounded completely uninterested.

Seungmin nervously rubbed the back of his neck.

"I actually came to ask you for a favor."

Chan immediately shot him a suspicious look.

"Could you..."

Seungmin hesitated.

"...look after Seunghyun until I find him a new nanny?"

Before Chan could answer, the words came tumbling out all at once.

"I know it's an awkward request, but finding a nanny takes time. I'll look for one as quickly as I can. Until then... I'd really appreciate it if you could keep an eye on him. I promise he won't cause you any trouble."

Only then did Seungmin stop to breathe.

He looked at Chan hopefully.

Please...

Chan didn't even think.

"No."

The answer came immediately.

Seungmin's face fell.

Disappointment flashed across his features before he covered it with a small smile.

He lowered his head politely.

"I understand."

"I'm sorry for bothering you."

He turned to leave.

Chan watched the smile disappear from Seungmin's face.

For some reason...

He didn't like it.

His nose crinkled in annoyance.

He hated that it bothered him.

"...Wait."

Seungmin stopped.

He turned around.

Hope flickered in his eyes.

"Find a nanny soon."

Chan looked anywhere except at Seungmin as he spoke.

Relief instantly spread across Seungmin's face.

His smile returned, brighter than before.

Chan hated how strangely satisfying that felt.

"Thank you so much."

"I promise I'll find a nanny as soon as possible."

Chan only hummed.

Feeling oddly uncomfortable.

"Seunghyun's teacher, Felix, will drop him off around one every afternoon."

"I'll pick him up after work."

"Okay."

"And... could I have your number? Just in case of an emergency."

With another sigh, Chan gave him his contact information.

He doubted there would be any emergencies.

Still...

When it came to a child, it was better not to take chances.

Agreeing to this arrangement already felt troublesome enough.

"Thank you again, Mr. Chan."

"Chan is fine."

He muttered the words quietly.

"Okay."

Seungmin smiled.

"Chan."

The simple way Seungmin said his name somehow felt... different.

He thanked him once more before returning to Apartment 709.

Chan quietly closed the door.

He collapsed onto the couch, another beer already in his hand.

With a long sigh, he rubbed his face.

He was screwed.

How had he ended up becoming a personal babysitter?

Why had he agreed?

Chan groaned in frustration.

He had lived in this apartment for almost a year.

No one had ever tried talking to him.

No one had ever asked him for anything.

He had kept everyone at a distance.

Reserved.

Alone.

And now...

Seunghyun had barged into his life out of nowhere.

Somehow, despite not wanting to...

Chan had become part of the little boy's world.

Did it feel wrong?

No.

That was the ridiculous part.

Sure...

He liked the kid.

Just a little.

He also found himself relating to Seunghyun whenever the two of them played with Berry.

Still...

He couldn't understand why he had agreed.

It wasn't as though he liked Seungmin.

He didn't hate him either.

But there was nothing particularly likable about the neighbour who had silently judged him the moment they first met.

And yet...

There had been something about the look in Seungmin's eyes.

Something that made saying no feel... wrong.

Before he even realized it, he had agreed.

Chan sank deeper into the couch and let out another tired sigh.

Forget Seungmin.

He was simply helping because he still had enough of a heart to do so.

Yeah...

There couldn't possibly be any other reason.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Chan woke up when it was almost past noon.

He hadn't slept well the previous night.

No matter how much he tossed and turned, sleep refused to come.

Alcohol had helped a little.

By the time he finally drifted off, it was already four in the morning.

He dragged himself out of bed, a dull headache throbbing from the hangover.

Opening the fridge, he searched for a bottle of water.

Only two were left.

Wow.

When was the last time he had gone grocery shopping?

Probably weeks ago.

Berry came running toward him, tail wagging happily.

Chan poured some dog food into Berry's bowl before taking one of the water bottles and drinking straight from it.

His refrigerator was mostly filled with beer cans.

Other than those, there were only a few bottles of water...

...and an expired bottle of ketchup he never bothered throwing away.

His gaze wandered toward the living room.

Too many empty beer cans.

With a quiet sigh, he decided to clean the apartment.

And he did.

Well...

Only a little.

Nothing much.

But it looked better than before.

After taking a shower and changing into clean clothes, Chan settled onto the couch with Berry beside him.

He turned on the television, lazily flipping through channels before stopping on the news.

Nothing interesting.

They were talking about another large donation made by Bahng Enterprises.

Chan let out a dry chuckle before changing the channel.

A bitter feeling settled in his chest.

His eyes drifted toward the window.

The weather looked nice today.

The sound of the doorbell pulled him away from his thoughts.

Seunghyun.

Did he actually forget about him?

No.

That little boy came over every day.

Impossible to forget.

It must be the new arrangement.

Chan opened the door.

Seunghyun walked in first, followed by another man.

This must be Seunghyun's teacher.

Seungmin had mentioned him before.

Chan couldn't quite remember his name.

"So you're the famous neighbour."

The blonde smiled warmly.

"I'm Felix."

"Chan."

Chan answered plainly.

"Don't be so grumpy with me."

Felix rolled his eyes dramatically.

"I'm leaving Seunghyun in your care."

With that, Felix waved and left.

Chan quietly shut the door.

Sometimes...

He really hated interacting with people.

Returning to the couch, he switched the television over to cartoons before pulling out his phone.

Seunghyun was already busy playing with Berry.

Chan mindlessly scrolled through his phone until he felt someone tugging on his shirt.

He looked up.

Seunghyun stood there, still holding onto the fabric of his T-shirt.

"Mr. Chan..."

The little boy looked up at him.

"I'm hungry."

"Then eat something."

Chan returned his attention to his phone.

"I already ate my lunch."

The reply made Chan look up again.

"Then what do you want me to do?"

He locked his phone and slipped it onto the table.

"Appa always cooks for me."

Seunghyun quietly played with his tiny fingers.

Chan groaned.

Still, he stood up.

After searching through the cupboards, he found a packet of instant noodles.

"You're eating noodles."

He called from the kitchen.

Seunghyun padded over with Berry following close behind.

"I don't really like noodles."

Chan gave him a flat look.

The little boy smiled sheepishly.

"Learn to adjust, kid."

Chan filled a pot with water and followed the instructions on the packet.

He didn't trust himself enough to cook anything more complicated.

A few minutes later, he placed the bowl in front of Seunghyun.

The little boy leaned forward and sniffed it.

"Blow on it first."

"Or you'll burn your tongue."

Seunghyun obediently listened.

He ate the noodles messily, and afterward, Chan quietly helped clean him up.

"It was good."

Seunghyun smiled.

Chan tried very hard not to like the compliment.

The day ended peacefully.

After that...

It became a routine.

Every afternoon, Felix dropped Seunghyun off at Chan's apartment.

Chan had exchanged a few words with him over the days.

Felix talked a lot.

Surprisingly...

Chan didn't mind it.

Most of the conversations between Felix and Seunghyun somehow revolved around the same person.

Seungmin.

Chan heard Seungmin's name more often than his own.

Seunghyun loved talking about his father.

Thankfully, after the noodle incident, Chan never had to worry about lunch again.

The very next day, Seunghyun arrived with an extra lunchbox.

He must have told Seungmin.

Every evening before six, Seungmin came to pick him up.

It quickly became part of their daily routine.

Seunghyun spent the afternoons playing with Berry.

Sometimes Chan couldn't even understand what the two of them were doing.

Sometimes they chased a ball.

Sometimes Seunghyun drew while Berry simply watched.

Other times, they just lay beside each other on the rug.

Seunghyun had become so comfortable in Chan's apartment that he occasionally fell asleep after exhausting himself from playing.

Today was no different.

As usual, Seungmin arrived in the evening.

Chan opened the door with his usual bored expression.

Even though a week had passed since the arrangement began, the two of them rarely talked unless it was about Seunghyun.

Seungmin stepped just inside the doorway.

He looked exhausted.

Meetings had occupied his entire day, and there was still plenty of work waiting for him at home.

Seunghyun immediately ran over.

Seungmin smiled and took his son's school bag.

The moment he saw his little boy, the exhaustion seemed to melt away.

Meanwhile, Chan walked over to the kitchen.

He opened the refrigerator to grab another bottle of water.

Seungmin's eyes followed him.

His gaze landed inside the fridge.

Almost empty.

A few bottles of water.

Beer cans.

An expired ketchup bottle.

Nothing else.

A quiet ache settled in Seungmin's chest.

No wonder Chan relied so much on takeout.

There was no one cooking for him.

For some reason...

Seungmin felt guilty.

"M-Mr. Chan..."

The words slipped out before he could stop himself.

Even after Chan had corrected him twice, the habit remained.

Chan looked at him questioningly.

"If you don't mind..."

Seungmin hesitated.

"Would you like to have dinner with us?"

Chan glanced toward the open fridge.

Damn.

"I'm fine."

He answered quickly.

"Please, Mr. Chan."

This time, it was Seunghyun asking.

The little boy looked genuinely excited.

Chan sighed.

"...Okay."

Seunghyun cheered happily.

Turning toward Seungmin, he grinned.

"Appa! Can Berry eat with us too?"

"Of course."

Seungmin smiled.

For the next hour, Seungmin cooked dinner.

Nothing fancy.

Just simple homemade food.

The kind of meal that made a house feel like home.

While Seunghyun happily gave Berry a tour of his room, Chan found himself quietly watching Seungmin cook.

It felt...

Awkward.

Yet he couldn't look away.

Seungmin looked exhausted.

Chan could tell.

Even after a long day at work, he had gone straight into the kitchen without a single complaint.

At one point, Chan offered to help.

Seungmin simply smiled.

"You should rest. You spent the whole afternoon looking after Seunghyun."

Chan almost laughed.

Looking after that little troublemaker had never really felt like work.

Still...

He didn't argue.

He couldn't even remember the last time he'd eaten a meal like this.

Seungmin was an excellent cook.

The four of them ate dinner quietly.

Chan preferred it that way.

He had never liked talking while eating.

As always, Seungmin made sure Seunghyun finished his meal first before serving himself.

Chan noticed.

He didn't say anything.

When dinner was over and Chan got up to leave...

"Mr. Chan!"

Seunghyun giggled.

"You'll eat with us tomorrow too!"

Chan paused awkwardly.

"You can come every day if you'd like."

Seungmin smiled warmly.

"It's alright."

Chan answered after a moment.

"No."

Seungmin shook his head gently.

"Please."

"You're already helping us so much."

"Let me return the favor."

Chan found himself speechless.

After a long pause...

"...Fine."

He muttered quietly before walking back to his apartment.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

After that day, Chan started eating at Seungmin's home. At first, it was only dinner, but after two days, Seungmin also started making breakfast for him, saying he had made an extra portion out of habit.

But Chan knew better.

His routine changed completely. He woke up, ate the breakfast Seungmin made, then cleaned his apartment if he felt like it. Later, Seunghyun came over, and they had lunch together-Seungmin packed Chan's portion too. In the evening, Seungmin came to pick Seunghyun up, cooked dinner, Chan ate with them, and then he went to sleep.

A pretty simple routine.

Seungmin never once complained about anything. His food was always delicious, and Chan had grown so used to it that takeout had started tasting bland.

Seungmin's cooking was simply better.

He was so consistent with his routine that he never once showed how tired he really was, even though he clearly was.

Chan felt that was possibly not human.

Chan stood on his balcony behind the closed railing, quietly admiring the evening sky. The cigarette between his fingers burned slowly.

He took a slow drag before exhaling toward the sky. The smoke drifted away, disappearing just as quickly as his thoughts returned.

He hadn't smoked in a while, mostly because there was always a kid inside his apartment. Chan didn't want Seunghyun growing up around cigarette smoke.

But today... today was just different.

Chan couldn't describe it.

His hands trembled slightly as he brought the cigarette back to his lips for another drag.

Everything had been fine.

He was fine.

Until the phone call that afternoon.

It had left him with this overwhelming urge to smoke again.

Honestly, Chan had thought that if he managed to go a few more days without smoking, he'd throw away every remaining pack.

Yet here he was.

Smoking his lungs out.

His father pissed him off.

Why did he even have to call?

Why did he suddenly pretend to care when he clearly didn't?

Why was Chan getting so worked up over one phone call?

He didn't know.

It was just... too much.

His father hadn't contacted him in three months. Chan hadn't wanted him to.

But today he called out of nowhere. If it hadn't been from an unknown number, Chan would've never answered. His father knew that. That's why he used the same old trick.

He only ranted about the same things Chan never wanted to hear.

Chan cut the call after exactly twenty-three seconds.

Yet it was still bothering him.

The cigarette burned down to ash.

Chan flicked it away and walked back inside with an irritated sigh.

The doorbell rang.

Seungmin.

Chan opened the door.

Seungmin greeted him with a polite smile.

"He's sleeping," Chan muttered, stepping aside to let him in.

"It's okay. I'll carry him," Seungmin replied.

"I'll get his backpack."

Chan walked toward the other room.

Seungmin approached the couch.

Seunghyun was asleep on top of Berry, the dog peacefully lying beneath him. They looked so adorable together that Seungmin couldn't help taking a few pictures.

His eyes wandered across the room before stopping on a photo frame resting neatly on the table.

Out of everything in the apartment, it was the only thing that looked perfectly clean and carefully placed.

Curious, Seungmin picked it up.

The photograph showed a young woman beside a little boy.

The boy looked a lot like Chan.

It must've been a childhood picture.

The woman... she looked like his mother.

A small smile appeared on Seungmin's face.

Even the grumpiest man had once been an adorable little kid.

"Don't touch that."

Chan's voice echoed sharply behind him.

Seungmin froze.

Slowly, he turned around.

"Put that down."

Chan strode over and snatched the frame from Seungmin's hands.

His anger exploded.

His jaw clenched as the memory of his father's call flashed through his mind, adding fuel to the fire already burning inside him.

His apartment could stay messy.

He didn't care.

But this photo frame...

It was the most precious thing in the entire apartment.

And Chan hated it when anyone touched it.

"I... I was only-"

Seungmin tried to explain, visibly startled by Chan's sudden outburst.

"Shut up," Chan hissed.

"Why did you touch something without permission?"

Seungmin's eyes narrowed.

His fists tightened as a wave of anger rose inside him.

Yes, he'd made a mistake.

But Chan didn't need to lash out at him like this.

Especially not over something that clearly wasn't intentional.

Seungmin simply stared back at him.

He could shout too.

He could argue.

He was angry too.

Yet...

Remaining silent felt like the better choice.

More than anger...

He felt disappointed.

Chan glared at him as though Seungmin had committed the biggest crime imaginable.

A beat passed.

Neither of them spoke.

Seunghyun stirred awake and immediately ran toward Seungmin.

Hiding every trace of his anger, Seungmin smiled gently at his son.

He picked Seunghyun up, grabbed his backpack, and quietly left Chan's apartment.

The door clicked shut behind him.

Chan stared at the photo frame in his hands.

He gently wiped the glass with the hem of his T-shirt before placing it back exactly where it belonged.

Then he collapsed onto the couch.

He was still furious.

He grabbed a beer can and emptied it in one long gulp.

It didn't help.

How could Seungmin touch something so precious to him?

How dare he?

Why was he smiling at it?

He was smiling.

The realization came a little too late.

It hit Chan straight in the chest.

Seungmin wasn't disrespecting it.

He was admiring it.

Just like anyone would after seeing someone's childhood photograph.

That picture meant everything to Chan.

And Seungmin had simply been looking at it.

Chan had lashed out because of his father.

Because of his own frustration.

Because of the mess inside himself.

Not because of Seungmin.

Chan didn't know how he was supposed to face him now.

Better not face him at all.

He groaned under his breath.

Why had he let himself lose control?

He ended up doing the very thing he hated.

He ended up hurting someone.

Seungmin hadn't shouted back.

He hadn't argued.

He hadn't even defended himself.

Anyone else probably would've.

Now...

Chan suddenly felt exactly like his father.

Lashing out at someone without reason.

Just like his father had always done to him.

Chan buried his face into a pillow and let out a frustrated groan.

He was fucked up.

Meanwhile, Seungmin's thoughts wandered elsewhere.

He left Chan's apartment as soon as Seunghyun woke up. There was no point in staying any longer.

Chan wasn't going to listen to him.

He was too angry to even hear him out.

Seungmin hated himself for causing trouble, but at that moment, he hated Chan even more for the way he'd behaved.

Shaking away his thoughts, he headed to the kitchen.

No matter how angry and disappointed he felt, he still had important things to do.

Seunghyun had already gone to his room to change.

Seungmin cooked dinner in silence, his mind replaying the earlier incident over and over again.

He couldn't stop thinking about it.

As always, he prepared an extra portion for Chan.

His hands paused.

Maybe I shouldn't have touched it.

Then another thought followed.

It must've been something precious to him.

Throughout dinner, Seungmin found himself glancing at the door.

As expected...

Chan never came.

By the time dinner was over, Seungmin's guilt had only grown.

Not because Chan had yelled at him.

Not because he believed he'd done something terribly wrong.

But because he understood.

When something-or someone-is precious to you, fear can easily disguise itself as anger.

He had done the exact same thing.

The day he couldn't find Seunghyun.

He hadn't shouted because Seunghyun had gone to Chan's apartment.

He shouted because, for one terrifying moment, he thought he'd lost his son.

That fear had spoken before love ever could.

After dinner, Seunghyun kept asking why Chan wasn't joining them tonight.

Seungmin simply smiled and came up with a small excuse.

Later, after putting Seunghyun to bed and making sure he was fast asleep, Seungmin quietly stepped outside.

He didn't know who had been right or wrong.

But he still felt responsible for apologizing.

After all...

Chan had helped him more than once.

---

Chan was lying on the couch when the doorbell rang.

With slow, reluctant steps, he walked toward the door, not expecting anyone important.

Outside, Seungmin stood nervously.

His heart pounded against his chest.

He wasn't here to argue.

He wasn't here to make things worse.

He only hoped Chan felt the same.

When the door finally opened, Seungmin let out a quiet breath.

Chan stood there, avoiding eye contact, his expression unreadable.

"You... you didn't come for dinner," Seungmin said awkwardly.

"So... I brought some for you."

He held out the packed dinner.

Chan stared at him for a long moment.

He couldn't believe Seungmin had actually thought about him...

Even after everything that had happened earlier.

"T... thanks," Chan muttered, carefully taking the container.

He should say sorry.

That was the right thing to do.

He should apologize for the way he'd behaved.

But somehow...

The words refused to leave his throat.

"I'm sorry," Seungmin said first.

"I shouldn't have touched it without asking."

He lowered his gaze slightly.

"It must've been something precious to you."

Chan froze.

Completely.

A dull ache spread through his chest, making his fingers tremble.

His apartment suddenly felt far too small.

The walls seemed to close in around him.

His mind went blank.

Seungmin simply stood there, quietly waiting, worry written across his face.

Somehow...

That made Chan feel even worse.

Maybe...

Maybe that worry was for him.

"...That's my mother," he said quietly.

Silence.

"She died a few years ago."

Another silence followed.

Seungmin didn't interrupt.

He simply listened.

As if he understood how comforting it could be to have someone who simply listened.

"Things with my father..."

Chan paused.

"...haven't been the same since."

That was enough.

Enough for Seungmin to understand.

Because he knew what it felt like when family became something complicated.

Neither of them spoke for a while.

For the first time in years...

Chan felt like someone had truly listened to him.

He didn't want to ruin that moment.

"I don't know what happened between you and your father," Seungmin said after a long silence.

"So I won't tell you who's right."

He smiled softly.

"But... if there's still a chance to talk..."

"...don't let anger be the last thing you say."

Chan looked at him with an expression Seungmin couldn't quite understand.

"I'm sorry..."

Chan finally whispered.

"For my behaviour earlier."

Seungmin waved a hand with a small smile.

"We were both wrong."

"It's okay."

Chan nodded.

Seungmin returned a gentle smile before quietly walking back to his apartment.

Chan remained standing at the doorway.

His chest felt strangely light.

His heartbeat echoed loudly in his ears.

He didn't know how long he stood there, staring at the empty hallway where Seungmin had just disappeared.

Maybe Chan had been reserved for so long...

...that he'd forgotten how to express himself.

Or maybe...

Seungmin simply knew how to understand every emotion without asking for an explanation.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

The morning sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a golden glow across Chan's face.

He woke up feeling something moving on his chest.

Berry. Of course.

He sat up, looking outside the window, thinking it was already noon.

To his surprise, it wasn't. He checked his phone. It was six in the morning. Chan isn't a morning person. Normally, he always wakes up in the afternoon, or considering his new habit, before nine in the morning.

Having trouble falling asleep, Chan couldn't find himself sleeping for more than a few hours, no matter how much he tossed and turned in bed.

His insomnia had only gotten worse over time, and alcohol seemed to be the only thing that helped him get a few hours of rest.

Yet, last night he fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Which was pretty strange, but the light feeling in his chest was pleasant.

Chan couldn't explain why he'd slept so peacefully. The apartment felt strangely quiet, and for the first time in a long while, the silence didn't weigh on him.

Maybe that was the reason he slept so calmly.

Feeling thirsty, Chan got out of bed and headed toward the kitchen, Berry following close behind.

After gulping down an entire bottle of water, Chan felt refreshed. His head wasn't pounding like it did every day from a hangover.

Chan glanced around the hall.

Messy.

He sighed. Usually, he didn't care how untidy it was. He was fine with it. But now it seemed so unpleasant.

It's not like he's changing or anything. Just a little clean house wouldn't hurt, especially when a kid came over every day.

Without wasting another second, Chan grabbed a trash bag, throwing away all the beer cans, bottles, and half-eaten takeout boxes.

It took him forty-five minutes to clean the entire house. Feeling satisfied, Chan decided to give both Berry and himself a good bath.

The doorbell rang just as he stepped into the hall.

Chan opened the door with a neutral expression, meeting Seungmin's familiar gaze and Seunghyun's sleepy one, which immediately lit up with excitement the moment he saw Berry.

Seungmin smiled sheepishly, holding Chan's packed breakfast and lunch.

"Hii... I'm sorry. I should've told you earlier, but somehow it slipped my mind," he explained. "Seunghyun has a holiday today. Would... would it be okay if-"

"It's fine," Chan cut him off gently.

Seungmin smiled, relieved.

"Thank you, Chan."

Chan hummed, feeling nervous for no reason.

Seunghyun ran inside the house with Berry, while Seungmin looked around, a little surprised by how clean everything was.

"You cleaned?" he asked.

Chan scratched the back of his neck.

"Yeah."

"It looks good. I'll be off then."

He handed Chan the breakfast before leaving.

Chan gave him a small wave, making Seungmin chuckle and wave back.

Once Seungmin disappeared into the elevator, Chan closed the door. He exhaled, a strange tingling sensation spreading through his chest.

Seunghyun was running around the couch with Berry chasing after him. Chan couldn't help but smile.

He sat down on the couch, feeling a little hungry after waking up so early. Opening the lunch box, he took a bite.

Delicious, as always.

By the afternoon, Seunghyun stopped running around the house and instead sat down to draw, all while teaching Berry about colors.

"It's called blue," Seunghyun said, coloring the water in his picture book.

Berry barked in reply, making Seunghyun giggle.

Chan watched them affectionately before returning to his book.

When lunchtime came around, Chan and Seunghyun ate together. Seunghyun ate messily, making Chan chuckle.

"You're a messy eater," he said, wiping the sauce from the boy's mouth.

The little boy giggled.

"Appa fed me. That's why. He eats later."

Chan understood.

For a four-year-old, Seunghyun was already smarter than most kids. But a child still needed care, especially when he had a single parent.

Chan couldn't imagine how Seungmin managed everything on his own.

The evening arrived quietly.

Exhausted from playing nonstop, Seunghyun fell asleep on the couch with Berry curled up beside him.

Chan felt relieved.

After all that chaos... why did kids have so much energy?

Or was it the fact that he was getting old?

Chan grimaced at the thought.

Of course he wasn't that old. He was fine. Seungmin was probably around the same age... maybe even older.

When the doorbell rang, Chan glanced at Seunghyun first to make sure he hadn't woken up.

But he was still sleeping peacefully.

Chan opened the door to find Seungmin standing there, his hands full of grocery bags.

"Seunghyun's sleeping," Chan said, taking the heavy bags from him.

"Thanks. I'll carry him," Seungmin replied softly.

He carefully picked Seunghyun up, but the little boy stirred awake.

"Appa..." he whispered.

"I'm here. Can you walk?" Seungmin asked gently.

"No," Seunghyun mumbled, wrapping his tiny arms around Seungmin's neck.

Seungmin giggled.

Chan helped him open the door, and together they entered the apartment, Berry trotting in behind them.

Chan set the grocery bags on the kitchen counter.

Seungmin placed Seunghyun on the couch and turned on some cartoons for him. Berry immediately sat beside the little boy.

Chan stood there quietly until Seungmin noticed the confused look on his face.

"Stay," Seungmin said before walking toward his room.

He returned about ten minutes later, freshened up and changed out of his work clothes.

Making his way to the kitchen, Seungmin started taking the groceries out of the bags.

Chan followed him.

"I'll help," he said simply.

Seungmin smiled.

They worked together in comfortable silence.

Chan helped put everything in its place before cutting vegetables while Seungmin prepared the soup.

It didn't take them long to finish making dinner. Seungmin was actually glad Chan had helped.

Seungmin served the food while Chan set the table, placing the plates exactly where Seunghyun and Seungmin usually sat.

Seunghyun came over only when Seungmin called him.

Chan watched as Seungmin fed Seunghyun first before finally eating himself.

His usual habit.

When they finished dinner, Seunghyun complained that he was sleepy, so Seungmin took him to bed.

Chan offered to wash the dishes.

He noticed the hesitation on Seungmin's face, probably because he felt like he was asking too many favors from Chan.

But after a moment, Seungmin nodded.

Later, when Chan was done washing the dishes, Seungmin didn't let him leave right away.

He told him to wait on the couch before returning with two cups of coffee.

Chan thanked him as Seungmin sat down, placing his laptop on the table.

"It's perfect," Chan said after taking a sip.

"Just the way I like it."

"I know, right? Less sugar works best," Seungmin replied with equal enthusiasm.

Silence settled between them.

But for Chan, it wasn't uncomfortable.

He had expected Seungmin to bring up what had happened yesterday, but he didn't.

Instead, once he finished his coffee, Seungmin opened his laptop and resumed working.

"Still working?" Chan asked without thinking.

"Yeah. Not much, though... I kind of leave the office early," Seungmin replied, lifting his gaze from the screen to meet Chan's.

Chan noticed the exhaustion in Seungmin's eyes but said nothing.

He called for Berry.

It was getting late, and he should head home.

"I'll be leaving then," Chan said politely.

Seungmin walked him to the door, closing it gently after Chan stepped into his own apartment.

Chan entered his house with a quiet sense of relief.

Nothing had changed after yesterday's events.

He was glad.

Everything was still normal.

Maybe...

Maybe tonight, he'd sleep peacefully again.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

The quiet routine never broke, and Chan found himself becoming a little more comfortable around Seunghyun and Seungmin.

He caught himself smiling whenever Seunghyun came over, or whenever Seungmin smiled at him.

Just a small smile.

But it was genuine.

Chan had never imagined himself becoming a part of someone else's daily life. For all these years, he'd only built walls around himself.

But somehow, Seunghyun managed to break through them.

He'd never been much of an observer. Living alone had its own perks. Chan never cared much about his own well-being, nor did he expect anyone else to.

But Seungmin...

That man only knew how to worry about everyone.

Chan had noticed.

In fact, he'd been observing him.

Because somehow, nothing seemed more interesting than watching Seungmin.

It had become a new habit.

Every morning at exactly eight-thirty, Seungmin left for work after dropping Seunghyun off at school.

And not even once did he forget to make breakfast and lunch for Chan.

Though Chan still thought he wasn't doing nearly as much as Seungmin did for him.

By now, Seunghyun had become a part of Chan's daily life.

And he liked the kid.

Of course, it had felt weird at first. He'd never imagined himself babysitting anyone.

But now, Chan thought it was only natural.

Because even before Seungmin asked him to look after Seunghyun, the little boy had already made a habit of visiting his apartment.

Seungmin was too kind.

Chan had noticed how Seungmin's tired eyes lit up every evening when he saw Seunghyun, as though a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

How Seungmin still managed to make time for his son despite his busy schedule, only to stay up late afterward and finish his work.

Chan had seen the apartment lights on almost every night.

How Seungmin never complained about cooking and always preferred homemade meals for his son.

The more Chan watched him...

The harder it became to look away.

Chan had never understood why Felix and Seunghyun talked about Seungmin so much.

But now he did.

They admired him.

And for the first time...

Chan felt like he admired someone too.

Someone kind.

Someone like Seungmin.

A father who loved his son with everything he had.

Chan had never shared a good relationship with his own father, and after his mother's death, things had only gotten worse.

Watching Seungmin do everything he could to be a good father for Seunghyun...

Chan couldn't help but admire him.

But he'd also seen the struggles hidden behind that smile.

Which only made him want to lighten even a little of the burden resting on Seungmin's shoulders.

His thoughts were interrupted when Seunghyun ran toward him.

Chan hadn't even realized he'd been watching Seungmin for the past twenty minutes.

It was a relief that Seungmin was asleep.

He had dozed off while reading a novel, which was still resting on his chest. The afternoon sunlight made his brown hair shine softly.

Chan couldn't look away.

Carefully, he lifted the book from Seungmin's chest and placed it on the table beside him.

It was Sunday, and since breakfast, Chan had been spending the day at Seungmin's apartment.

Seungmin didn't seem to mind.

He usually spent his Sundays catching up on work, playing with Seunghyun, taking him out somewhere, or meeting Felix.

But Chan had become a nice company to keep.

They talked about random things, and surprisingly, their tastes matched in many ways.

And with Chan came Berry, who happily spent the entire day playing with Seunghyun.

A win-win situation for both adults...

And for Berry and Seunghyun.

"Mr. Chan," Seunghyun nudged him gently. "Let's goooo," he whispered, careful not to wake Seungmin.

"Alright," Chan replied, taking hold of Berry's collar.

The three quietly left the apartment.

Seunghyun bounced excitedly as they stepped out of the building.

Chan smiled at him.

Seunghyun had been talking nonstop about going to the park. He'd even mentioned it during dinner the previous night, and Seungmin had promised to take him.

So Chan decided to take him instead while Seungmin caught up on some sleep.

He knew Seungmin needed the rest.

So why not?

Chan could take the kid himself.

He could visit the park too.

It had been a long time since he'd gone somewhere like this instead of walking to the convenience store to buy beer.

Yeah...

It felt nice to go somewhere like this again.

---

Seungmin woke up when his phone suddenly rang.

He answered it, only to regret waking up at all.

A spam call.

The apartment felt unusually quiet.

Rubbing his eyes, he called out,

"Hyun?"

No response.

"Chan?... Berry?"

Still nothing.

A confused look spread across his face as he wondered where the three of them had gone, until his eyes landed on a neatly folded note resting on top of the novel he'd been reading before he fell asleep.

Seungmin picked it up, squinting as he read.

"I'm taking Seunghyun and Berry to the park. You were sleeping. Didn't want to disturb you."

A smile slowly spread across Seungmin's face.

Chan was such a nice person.

He felt terrible every time he remembered how he'd judged him when they first met.

Chan was actually a very genuine person.

They even talked comfortably now, though at first, that had seemed impossible with Chan's habit of speaking so little.

Seungmin had always assumed it was because Chan had been living alone for so long.

Yet somehow...

The two of them fit together surprisingly well.

---

"Berry!" Chan panted, stopping in the middle of the path.

Why had he even agreed to play with Seunghyun and Berry?

Berry sprinted toward Seunghyun, who was waiting for him with his arms wide open.

The two of them really had endless energy.

"Seunghyun," Chan called from where he stood. "It's time. We've been here for quite a while."

The little boy came running back with Berry close behind.

"Let's head back," Chan said, taking a sip of water.

Thanks to the two of them, he'd gotten plenty of exercise.

"But what about the swings?" Seunghyun whined.

"Another day. Your appa must be awake by now. Let's go."

Chan crouched down and dusted the dirt off Seunghyun's clothes.

"Okaayy..." Seunghyun pouted.

Chan chuckled.

The three of them headed back toward the apartment.

Seunghyun walked ahead with Berry while Chan stayed a few steps behind, quietly keeping an eye on them.

As they stepped into the elevator, they hadn't expected to run into anyone.

"Uncle Felix!" Seunghyun chimed happily, rushing over to hug the blond.

Felix smiled before giving Chan a small bow, which Chan returned.

"You guys went somewhere?" Felix asked.

Seunghyun nodded enthusiastically.

"We went to the park!"

"He'd been asking to go there, so I took him," Chan replied casually as he pressed the button for their floor.

"I was not crying," Seunghyun protested immediately.

"Oh, yeah?" Chan chuckled.

Felix raised an eyebrow in surprise.

It was different seeing Chan like this.

He'd always seemed serious and quiet.

But looking at him now...

Maybe he'd judged him too quickly.

The conversation continued until they reached Seungmin's apartment.

It was the first time Felix had talked this much with Chan.

And honestly...

It wasn't bad at all.

Seungmin opened the door with a warm smile.

He looked well-rested.

Chan found himself looking at him for a second longer than he should have.

Seunghyun immediately ran inside before flopping onto the couch.

Felix sat beside him.

After Chan stepped inside, Seungmin closed the door behind them.

The four of them settled in the living room while Felix chatted with Seunghyun.

"I'll make some coffee for everyone," Seungmin said softly as he got to his feet.

Chan stood up as well.

"Wait..."

He paused, glancing at Seungmin.

"I'll make it."

With that, he headed toward the kitchen.

While Chan prepared the coffee, Felix and Seungmin continued talking, and Seunghyun remained completely absorbed in his cartoons.

A few minutes later, Chan returned with four mugs.

Felix accepted his with a smile.

"Thanks."

Chan handed another mug to Seungmin.

"Less sugar."

"Thanks."

Seungmin smiled, pleased that Chan remembered exactly how he liked it.

Felix let out a fake cough.

His eyes moved between the two men.

Chan was smiling.

Just a little.

At Seungmin.

It was surprising.

Chan hardly ever smiled.

At least, Felix had never seen him do it before.

But now...

It was strangely amusing.

Even after Felix returned home, he couldn't stop thinking about the way Chan had been looking at Seungmin.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

The afternoon was unusually peaceful.

Too peaceful for Chan's liking.

The soft laughter and tiny footsteps weren't there.

Chan glanced back at his phone, waiting for Seunghyun.

He had gotten so used to Seunghyun's little chaos that the apartment now felt strangely empty without him.

He checked the time.

Ten minutes late.

Usually, Felix dropped Seunghyun off at exactly one.

But today, he was only ten minutes late.

Chan shouldn't worry so much.

The minutes dragged on.

Seunghyun still wasn't home.

When those ten minutes turned into thirty, Chan's patience snapped.

Worried, he quickly dialed Seungmin's number.

Seungmin answered on the fourth ring.

"Hello?"

"Seunghyun still hasn't come," Chan said, trying not to sound too worried.

"Wait... let me ask Felix," Seungmin replied, his voice laced with concern.

The call ended.

Chan felt a little better.

But not by much.

His phone buzzed barely a minute later.

He answered immediately.

"Chan..." Seungmin began hesitantly.

Chan hummed in response.

"Felix got caught up with some work at school, and I can't leave the office right now..."

He paused.

"Can you pick him up... just this once?"

The anxiety instantly left Chan's body.

"Sure," he replied without hesitation.

"Thank you. I'll let Felix know you're coming to pick up Hyun."

The call ended.

Chan reached the school fifteen minutes later.

It was close enough by car.

It had been a long time since he'd driven, but he wasn't doubtful about his driving skills.

Seunghyun was waiting in the teachers' staff room.

The moment he saw Chan, his face lit up.

He ran over and threw his little arms around him.

Felix arrived a minute later, just as Chan was about to leave with Seunghyun.

"Thanks, mate," the blond said apologetically.

"It's fine."

Chan gave him a small bow before leaving with Seunghyun.

Berry was waiting in the car.

Seunghyun climbed into the passenger seat, and Chan made sure to fasten his seatbelt before sliding into the driver's seat and starting the engine.

"Mr. Chan?"

"Yes?" Chan replied, keeping his eyes on the road.

"I like that you and Berry came to pick me up from school," the little boy giggled. "Mr. Felix was busy, so he told me to wait for a little while."

"I know."

"But I'm happy you came."

Chan smiled to himself.

Actually...

He was glad too.

---

The next day, Chan got ready to pick Seunghyun up from school again.

Seungmin hadn't asked him to.

But Chan wanted to.

He wanted to pick Seunghyun up every day.

"You came today too?" Felix asked, a little surprised.

"I'll be picking him up every day," Chan replied with a small smile.

Felix smiled back.

It felt good knowing there was someone else who cared about Seunghyun just as much as he and Seungmin did.

After that day, it became another part of Chan's routine.

Every afternoon, he drove to Seunghyun's school to pick him up.

The little boy always looked delighted to see him.

Chan didn't actually have to do it every day.

Seungmin had told him it wasn't necessary.

But somehow, Chan managed to convince him.

He insisted it wasn't a burden.

He genuinely wanted to do it.

And besides...

It made Seunghyun happy.

The whole drive home, Seunghyun would excitedly tell him about his day at school-what activities he'd done, what his teachers had taught him, and every little thing that had happened.

Chan listened to every word, replying whenever he needed to.

Sometimes, instead of driving, he preferred walking home.

Seunghyun never minded either way.

Today was one of those days.

As they walked home together, Seunghyun suddenly stopped in front of an ice cream stall.

Chan immediately noticed what had caught the little boy's attention.

"I'm craving some ice cream," he said casually. "Seunghyun, do you want one too?"

The boy nodded enthusiastically, a wide smile spreading across his face.

"What flavor do you want?"

"Chocolate," Seunghyun answered after thinking for a moment.

Chan bought them both an ice cream.

Seeing Seunghyun's happy face made it all worth it.

Sometimes...

It was nice to simply take a walk.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Seungmin's heart pounded as anxiety crept over him.

He was expecting pure chaos.

Chan had called him hours ago, telling him Seunghyun wasn't feeling well.

Within the next hour, the little boy had developed a high fever.

And Seungmin, who was stuck in an important meeting, couldn't do anything about it.

Though Chan had told him not to worry and promised he'd take care of everything.

Still...

Seungmin couldn't help it.

Of course he couldn't.

Seunghyun was only four.

Whenever he got sick, he always looked for him.

Seungmin didn't know how much experience Chan had taking care of a toddler with a fever.

Not that he didn't trust Chan.

When it came to Seunghyun, Seungmin trusted him completely.

But he also knew it wasn't an easy task.

Especially when you'd never done it before.

When Seunghyun got sick for the first time, it had completely freaked him out.

Back then, Seungmin was still learning how to be a father.

But somehow...

He'd managed.

Those days had been the hardest period of his life.

A twenty-two-year-old, learning how to raise a newborn with no one by his side to help.

Yet...

Seungmin had never regretted it.

Seunghyun was his world.

No matter what happened, his son would always be the source of his strength.

The reason he'd become the man he was today.

And to Seungmin...

That was all that mattered.

The door opened a minute later.

Seungmin had expected complete chaos.

Instead...

The apartment was quiet.

Peaceful.

His tired eyes found Chan first, who gave him a reassuring look, before drifting toward Seunghyun sleeping on the couch.

The little boy was snoring softly, his chest rising and falling beneath a thin blanket.

A damp cloth rested on his forehead.

Another lay neatly folded beside a bowl of cold water on the table.

Berry was lying on the floor nearby, as though keeping watch over him.

"You good?" Chan whispered.

"Yeah... How is he?" Seungmin asked with a relieved sigh as he stepped inside.

"Better now."

Chan quietly closed the door behind him.

Seungmin knelt beside the couch and gently brushed Seunghyun's hair back.

The fever was still there.

But it wasn't nearly as high as before.

Chan must have taken really good care of him.

Seungmin looked up at Chan.

"Thank you... for taking care of him."

Chan shrugged.

"Told you. No need to worry."

Seungmin smiled.

The two of them then moved to Seungmin's apartment.

Seungmin carried Seunghyun to his room and carefully tucked him into bed.

While Seungmin stayed beside him, Chan prepared something light for the little boy to eat.

Still half asleep, Seunghyun managed to finish a little porridge before his head drooped again.

After giving him his medicine and making sure he was sleeping peacefully, the two of them quietly left the room.

For dinner, Chan insisted on ordering takeout.

Exhausted, Seungmin eventually gave in.

After dinner, the apartment settled into a comfortable silence.

The kind that didn't ask for anything.

Seungmin sat on the couch with his laptop balanced across his knees, his fingers moving lazily over the keyboard as he tried to finish the work he'd abandoned earlier.

Beside him sat Chan, a book resting on his lap.

Neither of them spoke.

They didn't need to.

The occasional rustle of turning pages, the soft tapping of keys, and Berry's quiet breathing were enough.

It had quietly become a routine over the past several nights.

Seungmin worked.

Chan simply sat beside him.

They didn't need words.

Each other's presence was enough.

Time slipped by.

The rhythm of Seungmin's typing gradually slowed.

The screen cast a faint bluish glow across his tired face.

He let out a small yawn.

His eyes closed.

Just for a second...

At least, that's what he thought.

Before he knew it, sleep claimed him.

Chan had been staring at the same page for several minutes.

The book was interesting.

But somehow...

His attention kept drifting toward the quiet sound of breathing and the gentle tapping of keys.

Toward the person sitting beside him.

Chan had been paying more attention to Seungmin than to his own book.

So he noticed immediately when the typing stopped.

Before he could turn to look-

Seungmin's head slowly tipped onto his shoulder.

Chan froze for a moment.

Looking down at the sleeping man, a small smile found its way onto his face.

Carefully, he lifted the laptop from Seungmin's lap.

He saved the document and placed the laptop on the table.

Then he gently pulled a blanket over Seungmin.

Only after making sure he was comfortable did Chan return to his book.

Though his attention remained on the man softly snoring against his shoulder.

Still...

He somehow managed to finish a few more pages.

The book really was good.

He turned another page when he heard tiny footsteps padding across the wooden floor.

Chan looked up.

Seunghyun stood in the hallway, his cheeks still warm from the fever as he rubbed his sleepy eyes.

The little boy looked at Chan.

Then at Seungmin.

"Appa..." he mumbled.

"Appa's asleep," Chan whispered gently.

"Can't sleep?"

Seunghyun nodded.

Without a moment's hesitation, Chan opened one arm.

"Come here."

The little boy climbed onto his lap and rested his head beneath Chan's chin before closing his eyes

Instinctively, Chan wrapped an arm around him, gently rubbing soothing circles across his back.

Seunghyun fell asleep almost immediately.

Warm.

Safe.

A little while later, the apartment fell silent once again.

Only the quiet rhythm of three steady breaths filled the room.

Chan's hand never left Seunghyun's back.

Seungmin remained asleep against his shoulder.

It was something more comforting than words.

Something more important.

This quiet domesticity...

This simple closeness...

Spoke louder than anything either of them could have said.

It felt like warmth.

Like home.

Peaceful in the gentlest way.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

The afternoon had been unusually chaotic.

With Seunghyun's fever finally gone, the little boy had returned to his energetic self.

Seungmin had left for work a while ago, reminding Chan to keep a close eye on Seunghyun.

And Chan had agreed.

Though it was hard to keep a close eye on someone who spent the entire day running around the apartment.

Not that Chan needed to be told.

He would've done it anyway.

But Seungmin had a habit of worrying over the smallest things.

Which was...

Very Seungmin.

Chan knew Seungmin trusted him.

It didn't need to be said.

He could see it.

Seungmin never had to remind him to take care of Seunghyun.

Because he knew Chan already cared about the little boy.

Because somehow...

The two of them had become a part of Chan's life.

"Count to twenty... No, no! Fifty!" Seunghyun giggled before running off.

Chan sighed.

Closing his eyes, he started counting.

"One..."

Seunghyun had been overflowing with energy ever since he woke up.

Even though he was feeling much better now, both Seungmin and Chan had decided not to send him to school.

So, as usual, Chan had been kidnapped by the two little monsters-

Berry and Seunghyun-

who hadn't run out of energy since morning.

To keep Seunghyun from running around too much, Chan suggested they play hide-and-seek instead.

He didn't want the little boy getting sick again.

"...Forty-eight... forty-nine... fifty."

Chan opened his eyes.

The apartment had fallen completely silent.

"Seunghyun?"

He looked behind the curtains.

No answer.

"Berry?"

Nothing.

At first, Chan smiled.

"They're taking the game seriously."

He checked the bedroom.

Then the bathroom.

The wardrobe.

The kitchen.

The living room.

No little giggles.

His smile slowly disappeared as anxiety crept in.

Chan searched the apartment a second time.

Then the hallway.

The elevator.

The staircase.

Still no Seunghyun.

Chan was certain Seunghyun wouldn't leave the apartment by himself.

But now that he couldn't find him...

He didn't know what to think.

Anxiety turned into pure fear.

Without wasting another second, Chan dialed Seungmin's number.

Seungmin answered on the second call.

"Yes, Chan... Is everything alright?" His voice sounded composed, though busy.

"Seunghyun..." Chan whispered, his voice shaking.

"I can't find him."

"What do you mean you can't find him?" Seungmin asked, trying to keep the panic out of his voice.

He was clearly terrified.

But not angry.

"We were playing. He went to hide somewhere. I've checked everywhere... I can't find him."

For a moment, Chan heard movement on the other end.

Then-

"I'm coming."

The line went dead.

Seungmin rushed out of the office.

He didn't care about the rain pouring outside.

He didn't care that he was getting drenched within seconds.

Nothing mattered more than finding his son.

He trusted Chan.

He knew...

He had to believe...

That Chan would find Seunghyun before he got home.

Please...

Please, Chan...

The silent prayer echoed in Seungmin's mind the entire way home.

By the time he reached the apartment building, he was completely soaked.

His phone buzzed repeatedly inside his pocket.

He never noticed.

Right then...

Nothing else mattered.

---

Inside the apartment, Chan sat on the couch with his arms folded.

In front of him stood Seunghyun, his head hanging low.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Chan..." the little boy mumbled.

Chan let out a long breath before pulling him into a hug.

"I was scared."

"We're not playing hide-and-seek again."

Seunghyun nodded quietly and hugged him back.

Chan had eventually found him asleep inside the cupboard, curled up on the very last shelf with Berry beside him.

Never in his life had Chan felt such overwhelming fear.

And never had he felt such overwhelming relief.

Thanks to Seunghyun...

He'd experienced both in the same afternoon.

Since then, he'd been trying to call Seungmin to let him know everything was okay.

But Seungmin wasn't answering.

He dialed the number for the ninth time.

The doorbell rang.

Chan practically ran to open it.

Seungmin stood there looking completely exhausted.

He was soaked from head to toe.

His eyes were red.

Probably from crying.

"H... Hyun?" he stammered, his entire body trembling.

Seunghyun stepped out from behind Chan.

"Appa."

His voice was cheerful, completely unaware of the panic he'd caused.

The moment Seungmin saw him, his knees gave out.

He knelt down and pulled Seunghyun into a crushing embrace.

Only after feeling his son's warmth in his arms did every emotion he'd been holding back finally spill over.

He cried.

Without stopping himself.

"Appa..." Seunghyun whispered softly.

After a moment, Seungmin pulled back just enough to look at him.

A weak smile trembled across his face.

"Appa... you're crying?"

Tiny hands gently wiped away his tears.

"No..."

Seungmin closed his eyes.

"I'm just soaked from the rain."

He hugged Seunghyun tightly once again.

As though letting go meant he might disappear.

Chan watched the scene quietly.

He had always known Seungmin loved his son.

But watching him go from absolute terror...

To overwhelming relief...

To breaking down in tears within seconds...

That was different.

Different in a way that made something ache deep inside Chan's chest.

And in that moment...

Chan finally understood what a father's love truly looked like.

The warmth of a father's love...

Something he had never received himself.

But now...

For the first time...

He had finally felt it.

---

The sky had turned completely gray by the time they reached the mall.

Chan parked the car before joining Seungmin outside.

Seungmin had planned to stop by the mall to buy some necessities and groceries.

Since Chan's fridge was almost empty too, he'd suggested they go together.

Thanks to Felix arriving right on time, they were able to leave Seunghyun in his care.

The two of them slipped out before Seunghyun could even start whining about being left behind.

The drive had been mostly quiet.

Somehow, Chan ended up apologizing for what had happened the day before.

But Seungmin simply brushed it off, telling him it wasn't anyone's fault.

Neither Chan's.

Nor Seunghyun's.

Still...

Chan couldn't shake the uneasy feeling.

Seeing Seungmin cry yesterday had made him realize just how terrified he'd been.

"Let's go," Seungmin said as he walked toward the mall.

Chan nodded and followed beside him.

The next hour was spent shopping.

Or rather...

Seungmin shopped.

Chan simply followed behind him like a lost puppy.

He honestly had no idea what to buy anymore, so he figured it was better to leave everything to Seungmin.

Surprisingly...

He didn't mind it.

Chan found himself enjoying the trip.

He'd expected Seungmin to be a little distant after yesterday.

Maybe even disappointed in him.

But he wasn't.

They talked the entire time while walking through the aisles.

It had been so long since Chan had gone grocery shopping that he could barely remember the names of half the things they picked up.

Which made Seungmin laugh every single time.

It was a pleasant sound.

Every time Seungmin laughed...

Chan found himself unable to look away.

Without saying anything, Chan took every shopping bag from Seungmin, leaving him free to walk comfortably beside him.

By the time they finished shopping, rain was pouring outside.

The two of them stopped near the entrance.

Seungmin rummaged through one of the bags until he finally found what he was looking for.

An umbrella.

He opened it, carefully making sure it covered both of them.

"When did you even buy that?" Chan asked as they started walking.

"When you were busy arguing over jam," Seungmin replied with a chuckle.

Chan felt warmth creep into his face.

His breath caught slightly when Seungmin stepped a little closer, trying to shield him from the rain.

Chan glanced at him.

Seungmin was smiling.

Without realizing it, Chan smiled too.

Just a little.

Small.

Quiet.

And completely genuine.

The two of them walked through the rain beneath a single umbrella.

Nothing extraordinary.

Just peaceful.

And somehow...

Perfect.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

The apartment had grown noisier over the weeks.

Because the chaos of everyday life had become a part of it.

Seunghyun's tiny footsteps and Berry's paws tapping against the wooden floor had brought the apartment to life.

Chan's once quiet, reserved life wasn't lonely anymore.

His apartment door was usually left open.

Chan never questioned it.

Nor did he really care.

Because he liked the warmth Seunghyun had brought into his life.

Sometimes Chan had breakfast at Seungmin's apartment before work.

Sometimes he spent the entire evening outside the apartment building, playing with Seunghyun.

None of them noticed when it became normal.

It simply...

Had.

---

It was a quiet afternoon.

Which was rather unusual.

Chan lay on the couch reading his book while Seunghyun sprawled comfortably across him.

Every now and then, Chan absentmindedly rubbed slow circles over the little boy's back.

Seunghyun shifted before poking Chan's stomach.

"Mr. Chan."

Chan lowered his book.

"What?"

The little boy sat up with the most serious expression a four-year-old could possibly manage.

He glanced around dramatically, as though someone might be listening.

"We have a secret mission," he whispered.

"What mission?" Chan whispered back just as seriously.

Seunghyun giggled.

"Tomorrow is Appa's birthday."

"And you want my help to surprise him?"

The little boy nodded eagerly.

"Alright... as you wish, my lord," Chan replied dramatically before sitting up with Seunghyun in his arms.

It was the least he could do to make Seungmin happy.

And honestly...

Chan wanted to.

The two of them spent the entire day planning the surprise.

Chan assumed Seungmin had completely forgotten his own birthday, which only made everything easier.

Together, they bought decorations and picked out a birthday present.

---

The next morning, Chan had breakfast at Seungmin's apartment as usual.

Since Seunghyun had the day off because of a school function, Chan spent most of breakfast trying to stop him from blurting out the surprise.

The little boy was adorably terrible at keeping secrets.

Chan didn't even need to ask for Seungmin's apartment key.

He already had a spare one.

Seungmin had given it to him a long time ago in case of emergencies.

Today...

He was finally putting it to use.

They started decorating in the afternoon.

Which turned out to be much more chaotic than Chan had expected.

He'd thought Seunghyun would help.

Instead, Seunghyun and Berry spent the entire time chasing balloons around the apartment.

They even managed to pop half of them.

Eventually, Chan had no choice but to lock the two little troublemakers inside Seunghyun's room so he could finish decorating in peace.

He chose a blue-and-white theme.

By the time he finished, the living room looked beautiful.

The blue and white decorations complemented each other perfectly.

White and blue flowers decorated every corner of the room.

A beautiful bouquet rested neatly on the table beside Seungmin's favorite cake.

Half an hour before Seungmin usually came home, Chan finally let Seunghyun and Berry back into the living room.

He switched off all the lights.

Then he practiced the surprise with Seunghyun one last time.

---

Seungmin arrived home at his usual time, completely unaware of what was waiting inside.

Earlier, Chan had texted him saying he was taking Seunghyun out.

Fifteen minutes later, he'd sent another message saying they'd be home a little late.

Seungmin had only smiled at the messages.

Chan and Seunghyun had been spending a lot of time together lately.

Not that he minded.

He actually loved how naturally Chan cared for his son.

Leaving Seunghyun with Chan never made him anxious anymore.

Unlocking the door, Seungmin stepped inside.

The apartment was unusually dark.

He didn't remember leaving all the lights off.

Then-

A quiet bark.

Followed by hushed whispers.

A confused frown crossed his face.

He took another step.

Just as he slipped off his shoes...

The lights came on.

"Happy Birthday, Appa!" Seunghyun shouted as he ran toward him.

The little boy wrapped himself around Seungmin's legs.

Still stunned, Seungmin looked up.

Chan stood a few steps away, holding a bouquet of flowers.

He was wearing a children's party hat.

Cute.

Seungmin couldn't help thinking.

"Happy birthday," Chan said awkwardly, holding out the bouquet.

He was trying.

Seungmin could tell.

And somehow...

That made it even sweeter.

Smiling warmly, Seungmin accepted the bouquet before picking Seunghyun up.

The three of them settled on the couch while Berry happily curled up nearby.

Seungmin looked around the apartment.

The decorations.

The flowers.

The cake.

Everything was beautiful.

His chest tightened.

No one had ever done something like this for him before.

His eyes shimmered.

Chan noticed.

But quietly looked away.

On the table sat the birthday cake...

And a neatly wrapped gift.

"Cut the cake!" Seunghyun cheered excitedly.

Seungmin chuckled.

It was even his favorite cake.

The three of them cut it together while Seunghyun enthusiastically sang Happy Birthday.

Chan tried to sing along.

He was completely off-key.

It made Seungmin laugh.

After cutting the cake, Seungmin fed the first bite to Seunghyun.

The second...

To Chan.

"Thank you so much for this, Hyun."

He kissed Seunghyun's cheek.

The little boy giggled.

"Mr. Chan helped! He did everything!"

Seungmin's smile softened before he turned to Chan.

"Thank you so much, Chan."

Chan suddenly became painfully aware of his own heartbeat.

It pounded loudly against his ribs.

"H-Here..."

He nervously held out the gift.

"It's not... anything big. I just... didn't know what to buy."

"You didn't have to," Seungmin said gently.

Truthfully...

He didn't need anything else.

This was already more than he could have ever wished for.

"But I wanted to," Chan replied quickly.

"It's from your favorite author."

Seungmin carefully unwrapped the gift.

A novel.

From his favorite author.

He already owned almost every book that writer had published.

Chan must have noticed.

The corners of Seungmin's lips lifted into the softest smile.

"Thank you, Chan."

Without thinking, he stepped forward and gave Chan a brief hug.

Chan's heart nearly stopped.

His hands trembled slightly as he awkwardly patted Seungmin's back.

The warmth of the embrace lingered long after it ended.

Scratching the back of his neck, Chan cleared his throat.

"L-Let's eat."

"Dinner's ready."

"You made dinner?" Seungmin asked in genuine disbelief.

"Of course. I'm not as bad a cook as you think," Chan replied playfully, trying very hard to think about anything except the hug.

"I know," Seungmin laughed.

"You only burn kitchens."

Chan laughed too.

Dinner turned out far better than Seungmin had expected.

Everything was delicious.

He couldn't stop praising Chan.

The amount of effort he'd put into everything...

It was impossible not to notice.

Throughout dinner, Seungmin found himself glancing at Chan again and again.

He still didn't know how to properly thank him.

"Appa!"

Seunghyun suddenly jumped to his feet.

"I have a gift too!"

He ran to his room before returning a minute later with a folded drawing.

He proudly opened it.

"Mr. Felix told us to draw our family."

"It's beautiful, Hyun," Seungmin said with a smile.

"This is me."

Seunghyun pointed proudly.

"Appa..."

Then another figure.

"Mr. Chan."

"And Berry!"

Chan stared silently at the drawing.

His heart swelled with warmth.

It had been a long time...

Since someone had included him in a family.

Since when...

Had he become a part of theirs?

To Seunghyun...

It was the most natural thing in the world.

Seungmin smiled as he admired the drawing.

But Chan...

Chan remained lost in his thoughts.

Lost somewhere deep inside his heart.

It had been so long since he'd felt something like this.

The feeling...

Of being loved.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

The Sunday afternoon was peacefully quiet.

"Do I have to wear something formal?" Chan asked as he folded the shirt in his hands. It smelled just like Seungmin.

"I think formal, but simple," Seungmin replied, making a thoughtful face.

"You have to help me. I've never attended a school event," Chan requested, taking the dry clothes out of the basket.

This Sunday afternoon, Chan had decided to help Seungmin fold the laundry. Since he had been crashing at Seungmin's apartment since last night, helping him gave Chan a sense of responsibility, like he was lightening a little of Seungmin's burden.

Though now, it happened on its own. Before Chan could even think, he was already helping around the apartment or doing chores alongside Seungmin. It had become second nature, a normal rhythm they had quietly settled into.

"Don't pressure yourself... and if it makes you feel any better, I'm equally nervous," Seungmin said with a chuckle.

Apparently, last night, after dinner and Seunghyun's heartfelt family drawing, the little boy had told them that his school had an event on Monday.

And since family was allowed, Seunghyun wanted both Chan and Seungmin to attend and watch him perform with his classmates.

So who were Chan and Seungmin to reject such a cute request?

Everything had been simple until Chan started freaking out over what he should wear.

He couldn't go in his usual clothes. Almost everything he owned was black, and he mostly wore shorts and tank tops.

Which clearly wouldn't look appropriate.

"I'll just wear a suit, even if it's going to look overdressed," Chan sighed dramatically.

"Just wear a nice shirt and trousers," Seungmin smiled. "We'll leave by ten. I've already taken a half-day for tomorrow," he explained, folding the last piece of clothing.

"Okay," Chan replied quietly, leaning back onto the couch.

Maybe he was overthinking too much, Chan thought.

It was the first time someone had thought he was important enough to attend one of their special occasions.

Chan still couldn't shake the feeling. He couldn't express to Seunghyun how much it meant to him that the little boy had included him as part of his family.

And deep down, Chan knew he could never get enough of that feeling.

Tiny footsteps padded across the living room again. Chan and Seungmin were so busy that neither of them noticed what Seunghyun had been doing in his room.

Seunghyun came running out with Berry chasing after him. He quickly hid behind Chan.

"Hyun..."

"Berry..."

Chan and Seungmin spoke at the exact same time, making both Berry and Seunghyun stop in their tracks.

Seunghyun's face was covered in blue paint with streaks of green mixed in, and his clothes were a rainbow of colors.

And Berry...

He looked like a yellow bee.

They looked messy.

Too messy.

And the fact that Chan and Seungmin had just finished doing all the laundry made both of them want to cry.

They sighed at the same time.

Then paused.

Seungmin looked at Chan, who was already looking back at him.

The next second, they both burst into laughter.

Seunghyun, who had no idea what was so funny, laughed along anyway.

Chan stood up and lifted Seunghyun into his arms while Seungmin guided Berry toward the bathroom.

They needed to clean up this mess.

They moved without a word, with the kind of quiet understanding where neither of them needed to communicate. They already knew exactly what they had to do.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Chan and Seungmin slumped onto the couch.

They had cleaned everything.

Even the apartment.

Twice.

Seungmin had already hidden Seunghyun's paint so he wouldn't create another masterpiece on himself-or Berry.

It had been exhausting.

Especially washing Berry.

"I have no energy left," Chan sighed dramatically as he stretched his arms.

Seungmin chuckled.

"It's fine. Rest. I'll handle dinner."

"No. I'll help."

Chan stood up immediately, as if he had suddenly regained all his energy.

Seungmin laughed.

Sometimes Chan acted more childish than Seunghyun.

Seungmin glanced at the time, thinking he should start preparing dinner. Felix and Changbin had been invited over because Felix had complained nonstop about not being able to come yesterday and wish him in person.

Chan followed Seungmin into the kitchen. Together, they discussed what they should prepare before getting started.

Seungmin decided to cook something traditional.

They moved in sync, working like a team. Chan washed and chopped the vegetables before checking whether the rice was fully cooked while Seungmin prepared the soup.

They worked in comfortable silence, broken only by the faint sound of Seunghyun's cartoon playing on the TV in the background.

The soup was almost done.

Seungmin scooped up a spoonful to taste it.

But before he could, his hand moved on its own as he turned toward Chan.

Chan, without even thinking, leaned forward and tasted it, not even looking at Seungmin, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

He gave him a thumbs-up.

Seungmin nodded and turned off the stove.

The realization hit Chan a minute later.

His face flushed.

Since when had things like this become so normal?

So...

Domestic.

It was a relief when the doorbell rang before Seungmin could even notice the faint pink tint on Chan's face.

"Minnie... happiest birthday!" Felix chimed as he stepped inside the apartment and immediately hugged Seungmin.

"You already wished me like ten times yesterday," Seungmin laughed, hugging him back.

"Yaa... I wanted to wish you in person," Felix pouted, making Seungmin laugh again.

"Happy birthday, Min," said a muscular man as he pulled Seungmin into a side hug.

Chan assumed he must be Changbin.

Felix's boyfriend.

"Thanks, hyung," Seungmin smiled at Changbin.

While Seungmin greeted them, Chan quietly set the table. Seunghyun practically ignored Felix and immediately jumped into Changbin's arms.

His favorite uncle.

When everyone gathered around the table, Chan greeted them as well and introduced himself to Changbin. Felix already knew him.

They clicked surprisingly well.

Changbin and Felix sat together, while Seungmin and Chan sat across from each other, with Seunghyun beside Seungmin.

"It's delicious," Changbin said, his eyes widening as he took another bite.

Felix hummed in agreement.

"Chan cooked this. He's actually a really good cook," Seungmin added.

Chan's face heated.

"But... you're better than... me."

"He's not good with compliments," Seungmin chuckled. "I've practically kidnapped him into cooking with me every day."

"Nah... I help because I want to," Chan replied.

The two of them laughed.

Changbin stared at them with an expression that was half surprised and half impressed. He leaned closer to Felix.

"Are they dating?" he whispered.

"Nope," Felix whispered back.

"Are you sure?" Changbin glanced at Seungmin and Chan again. "Look at them..."

"They look so cute. I know." Felix smiled to himself. "But for the record, they aren't dating...

At least not yet."

The dinner turned out exactly how Seungmin had hoped.

Afterward, Changbin and Chan volunteered to wash the dishes so Felix and Seungmin could sit together and chat for a while.

The two of them settled onto the couch while Seunghyun and Berry watched cartoons again.

"You're coming tomorrow, right?" Felix asked, taking a sip of his tea.

"Of course. Chan's coming too. Hyun said he wanted Chan there as well," Seungmin replied, glancing fondly at Seunghyun.

"Wow." Felix placed his cup on the table. "By the way... Chan."

"Hm?"

"Isn't he nice?" Felix asked casually, though his eyes were clearly testing the waters.

Seungmin's eyes sparkled.

"He's so nice. I never worry about Hyun when he's with him. He's such a reliable person."

Felix smiled to himself.

"You know..."

"He looks at you differently."

"What?" Seungmin laughed. "You're thinking too much."

Felix rolled his eyes at his hopeless friend.

"Forget it. But I can bet..."

"He admires you."

"Yeah, yeah," Seungmin shrugged nonchalantly.

The apartment grew quiet again after Felix and Changbin left.

Not an uncomfortable silence.

A silence filled with warmth and quiet understanding.

Chan sprawled across the rug with a book in his hands while Seunghyun rested his head on Chan's lap. Chan absentmindedly stroked the little boy's hair, and Seunghyun copied him by gently petting Berry's fur.

They simply existed in each other's company.

No one questioned it.

Because no one needed to.

Seungmin's fingers moved across the keyboard as he focused on finishing the last file for work.

Then Felix's words echoed inside his head.

"He looks at you differently."

He had brushed them off earlier.

But now...

He couldn't.

It was strange.

Seungmin had never dwelled on someone's words this much before.

Maybe it was because Felix had mentioned Chan.

If it had been anyone else, Seungmin would've forgotten about it by now.

After Seunghyun was born, Seungmin had accepted that being a single parent was difficult.

But he had never cared much about having a partner.

He didn't need one.

His son was happy.

That was enough.

Yet somehow...

He couldn't stop thinking about those words.

Does Chan really look at me differently?

But... in what way?

Seungmin didn't know.

Chan was a good person.

Someone he trusted.

Someone he genuinely liked.

But he had never thought about him beyond that.

What if Felix is right?

The thought made him frown.

Not because it was a problem.

But because...

It was unexpected.

His fingers stopped moving.

Slowly, Seungmin lifted his gaze from the laptop.

Toward Chan.

To his surprise...

Chan was already looking at him.

Their eyes met.

"He looks at you differently."

"He admires you."

Felix's words echoed again.

Neither of them looked away.

A strange flutter bloomed inside Seungmin's chest.

Heat crept to his ears.

And strangely...

Chan didn't look away either.

Was he imagining this?

Did Chan really look at him differently?

Then...

Why couldn't Seungmin look away?

Chan must have thought they had somehow turned it into a staring contest because, a few seconds later, he was the first to break eye contact.

His ears turned bright red.

His cheeks flushed.

"Uh... I'll... I'll put Seunghyun to bed."

It sounded more like an escape than a suggestion.

Seungmin simply hummed and looked back at his laptop.

What the hell was I doing?

A staring competition with Chan?

Chan practically fled the room with Seunghyun.

Get a grip, Chan scolded himself as he tucked Seunghyun into bed before picking up a book for the bedtime story.

His hands were still shaking.

He shouldn't have done that.

What was Seungmin going to think of him now?

Chan groaned inwardly.

He couldn't act like a teenage girl with a crush who blushed after making eye contact.

It was...

Embarrassing.

So embarrassing.

He had only been reading.

Okay...

Maybe he had been glancing at Seungmin every now and then.

But it wasn't supposed to end like that.

He just...

Couldn't look away.

If Chan weren't so stubborn-

Or perhaps simply trying too hard to be a responsible adult-

He would've admitted it to himself a long time ago.

Because things were different now.

At least for him.

He admired Seungmin.

More than anyone.

Seungmin was an incredible father.

A dependable friend.

A genuinely good person who somehow managed everything while raising his son alone.

Chan had never admired someone this deeply before.

Sure, he had seen moments where even someone as strong as Seungmin looked fragile.

But Seungmin never let those moments affect Seunghyun.

No matter how difficult life became...

He always stood back up.

And maybe...

That was one of the reasons Chan wanted to become a better person.

He used to think people were lying whenever they said that admiring someone made you want to become better.

Chan had always thought it was complete bullshit.

But now...

He had somehow ended up in the exact same situation.

He wanted to become someone Seungmin could rely on.

Someone who could remind him that he didn't have to carry everything alone.

Someone responsible.

Because somewhere along the way...

Chan had already started thinking of Seungmin and Seunghyun as his family.

As the people he wanted to protect.

And those confusing emotions...

Were the reason behind his miserable crush.

Truthfully, Chan was happy with how things were.

Maybe they could become something more.

Maybe.

But he didn't want to feed his delusions.

He was content with where he stood.

He could still stay by Seungmin's side.

Still help him.

Still be someone he could rely on.

That was enough.

Chan didn't want to lose everything he had gained because of emotions he couldn't control.

His admiration didn't have to be returned.

What he felt for Seungmin...

Could remain his secret.

And his alone.

He was fine.

Actually...

He was happy.

As long as he could stay with them.

--

Seungmin had no idea how much time had passed since he had been pretending to work.

Somehow, he had still managed to finish a little.

Had it been an hour?

Or two?

Chan had left to put Seunghyun to bed.

So why hadn't he come back yet?

A small part of Seungmin was relieved.

It would've been awkward after...

That.

Ever since Chan had left, Seungmin hadn't been able to stop thinking about what had happened.

It wasn't intentional.

He had simply been surprised to find Chan already looking at him.

And surprised that...

Neither of them had looked away.

Felix's words echoed again.

He looks at you differently.

The possibility that Felix might actually be right refused to leave his mind.

Seungmin sighed.

He was an adult.

A single father.

He couldn't behave like some teenager.

Closing his laptop after saving his work, he quietly walked toward Seunghyun's room.

Half hoping the little boy had fallen asleep.

Half expecting him to be blackmailing Chan with those puppy eyes into reading one more story.

The bedroom door was slightly open.

Seungmin peeked inside.

And in that moment...

Every doubt quietly disappeared.

Chan was asleep.

One hand still held the book.

The other rested protectively on Seunghyun's back.

The little boy was sprawled across Chan's chest, snoring softly.

Berry slept peacefully at their feet.

A gentle smile spread across Seungmin's lips.

He quietly stepped inside, carefully slipped the book from Chan's hand, and pulled a blanket over the three of them.

Maybe...

Chan did look at him differently.

But Seungmin was certain of one thing.

The way Chan looked at Seunghyun...

Was nothing but love and care.

And if Chan truly admired him...

Then perhaps...

Seungmin admired Chan even more.

More than he could ever put into words.

---

The morning was utterly chaotic.

Felix had personally come to pick up Seunghyun because the event would start at eleven, but families had to be present before ten-thirty.

Chan wasn't usually the type to get nervous over things like this.

But oh God...

He was panicking.

It's only a school event, Chan reminded himself as he stared at the clock like it had personally betrayed him.

After spending almost the entire morning trying to find the perfect outfit, he still wasn't satisfied.

It had been so long since he'd dressed like this.

He wore a beige cropped jacket over a white tank top, paired with tailored black trousers and polished black shoes.

He glanced at himself in the mirror one last time before leaving the apartment.

Of course, not before crouching down to pat Berry's head and shower him with affection.

Chan didn't trust anyone else to look after him.

Besides, Berry knew how to stay home by himself for a few hours. Chan had left him alone before-not for too long-but Berry was smart and had never caused any trouble.

Meanwhile, Seungmin picked up his phone and glanced around the apartment one last time before locking the door.

Just then...

Chan stepped out of his own apartment.

Seungmin turned around.

And forgot how to breathe.

Chan...

Looked good.

Actually...

Handsome.

"Do I look okay?" Chan asked nervously, looking down at his outfit. "I mean... it's not like we have much time left, but I can chan-"

"You look... handsome."

The words slipped out of Seungmin's mouth before he could stop them.

Shit.

He hated speaking before thinking.

Chan blinked.

Oh.

A second later, his ears turned bright red.

"L-Let's... let's go," Seungmin stuttered as he hurried toward the elevator.

Chan quietly followed behind him, still slightly dazed by the unexpected compliment.

He glanced at Seungmin.

Cute.

That was the first word that came to his mind.

Though, if he were being honest, Seungmin looked more stylish than cute.

He wore a black cropped jacket over a fitted white tank top, paired with dark ripped jeans and black shoes.

Stylish.

Confident.

Effortlessly handsome.

But somehow...

Chan always found him cute.

"Shit... I forgot my car keys." Seungmin stopped just as they reached the parking lot. "Let me go get them-"

"It's fine. I have mine," Chan interrupted.

"Thank God," Seungmin sighed in relief before sliding into the passenger seat.

Chan started the engine.

It only took them fifteen minutes to reach the school.

They parked quickly and followed the stream of parents toward the auditorium, relieved they had arrived on time.

Seungmin chose seats in the fifth row near the side so they would have a clear view of the stage.

Chan sat beside him.

The two exchanged a small smile.

Seunghyun's class performed after three other groups.

Like the rest of his classmates, he was dressed as a flower.

They all stood on stage singing together, their tiny voices blending into a surprisingly sweet harmony.

Chan and Seungmin clapped so enthusiastically that they even stood up from their seats.

Seunghyun spotted them immediately and waved excitedly from the stage.

They even caught glimpses of Felix, who was busy organizing the next group of children waiting for their performance.

The event ended around noon.

Since it was only the toddlers' program, theirs lasted just an hour, while the rest of the school's activities continued inside the auditorium.

The moment it ended, Seunghyun came running toward them.

Chan picked him up with ease, making the little boy giggle.

He looked exactly like a tiny sunflower.

Cute.

Absolutely adorable.

Thanks to Felix, they managed to take plenty of photos together.

Chan had been shy about it at first.

But Seungmin simply grabbed the sleeve of his jacket and pulled him into the frame.

The photos turned out beautiful.

They met several of Seunghyun's classmates' parents and a few of his teachers.

Almost everyone naturally assumed Chan was Seungmin's husband...

And Seunghyun's father.

Seungmin spent the entire time with a bright red face.

Chan wasn't doing any better.

The day ended with laughter, photographs, and sweet memories.

By the time Chan drove them home, Seunghyun had already fallen asleep in the back seat.

Seungmin, who had originally planned to take only a half-day off from work...

Ended up taking the entire day instead.

And somehow...

It had been worth every second.

Chan couldn't even begin to describe how happy he felt.

For the first time in a long while...

He had been treated like family.

Loved like family.

What more could he possibly ask for?

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

The warm, comforting feeling filled his chest as Seungmin stepped inside the house.

Chan smiled at him from the living room. He was building blocks with Seunghyun, who quickly ran toward him and wrapped his arms around him.

"Working late?" Chan asked as he walked over.

Today had been exhausting. Seungmin had so much work, and on top of that, too many meetings to attend.

Since the work was important, he decided to finish it at the office instead of bringing it home, which took more time. As a result, he was late today.

"Yeahh... I'm tired now," Seungmin mumbled as he slumped down on the couch.

"Just rest. I've already cooked dinner. Let's eat," Chan said with a smile, putting all the blocks back into the box.

"You are such a lifesaver, Chan," Seungmin said dramatically, making Chan laugh.

He headed to his room to freshen up before dinner. By the time he was done, Chan had already set the table.

They ate while briefly chatting about their day. Seunghyun did most of the talking because Chan fed him first and ate later.

A typical Seungmin habit, which had somehow become Chan's too.

By the time they were done, Seungmin wanted to hit the pillow and sleep like there was no tomorrow.

Chan told him he would take care of everything and that he could go to sleep peacefully.

Seungmin gave Chan a look full of gratitude. Seunghyun looked sleepy too, and Seungmin thought about putting him to bed first.

But before he could move, the doorbell rang.

Seungmin kind of froze.

Chan stopped too.

It was nine in the evening. Who could it be?

Seungmin frowned and went to open the door. His frown only deepened when he saw the person standing outside.

His father.

Mr. Kim.

Chan noticed it immediately. An ugly feeling settled in his chest.

Seungmin stepped aside and let the man in. He was an old man, probably in his sixties.

Chan didn't like the way the man was looking at Seungmin.

"Chan... can you... put Seunghyun to bed?" Seungmin requested, his voice shaking slightly. He didn't meet Chan's eyes.

Chan nodded before leaving.

But he couldn't forget how nervous Seungmin looked.

Seungmin sighed.

"How... how did you find my apartment?"

His father snorted.

"Come back home."

"You already know my answer," Seungmin replied, fuming with anger and disappointment.

"You've played enough house, Seungmin," his father said loudly. "Seunghyun belongs to our family. His home is waiting there."

"This is his home," Seungmin shot back. "And this is my home too. I'm not sending my son to that jail."

His father raised his voice.

"You've always been a disappointment. Do you think you can raise him like this? He'll become just like you. Nothing but a disappointment."

"I know how to raise my son. I don't need you. And I will never go back there."

"Leave my house while I'm still being respectful," Seungmin said, pointing toward the door.

His father glared at him, but Seungmin wasn't afraid anymore. He glared back until the old man finally turned around, muttering something under his breath before leaving the apartment.

Seungmin closed the door and slid down onto the floor with a sigh.

Why does it have to be like this?

Can't he just live peacefully with his son?

He let out a bitter laugh as something inside his chest ached.

Chan came out a minute later.

Seungmin didn't want to pretend nothing had happened. He was sure Chan had heard everything. They had been really loud.

But Seungmin didn't want to answer anything either.

He wanted some time.

He walked into the kitchen and began washing the dishes, trying to distract himself from his own thoughts.

Chan watched him silently.

He noticed everything.

The way Seungmin's shoulders were tense.

The way he flinched when he dropped a spoon.

Seungmin might have been good at pretending he was alright, but there was nothing Chan couldn't see.

He had heard the argument, and it reminded him of the ones he'd had with his own father.

Chan was kind of glad Seunghyun had fallen asleep so quickly.

He didn't want the little boy to hear those harsh words.

Chan had seen Seungmin's struggles closely, but unfortunately, they weren't the only ones.

From what he'd heard, Seungmin was struggling with his parents too.

Yet still...

This man managed to smile.

Managed to make his son happy.

Managed to love him with everything he had.

Kim Seungmin...

What a man you are.

Seungmin took longer to wash the dishes than he usually did. Finally, he sat down on the couch beside Chan, maintaining a reasonable distance between them.

They sat there for a long time without saying anything.

The silence felt more unbearable for Seungmin.

"Seunghyun is sleeping?" he asked, looking at his hands folded in his lap.

"Yes," Chan replied, his voice soft.

"Look... I know you must be uncomfortable after that..." Seungmin mumbled. "I know no one wants to see someone else's mess... I'm... I'm sor-"

"Seungmin, look at me."

Seungmin did.

His eyes were glassy.

"Are you okay?" Chan asked gently.

Seungmin nodded slowly.

"No. I mean... are you okay?" he asked again, moving a little closer.

"I... I don't know..." His throat tightened. "I would never go back there again... I hate that house," Seungmin admitted, holding back his tears.

"He's my father... but all he cares about is his reputation. He resents me because I refused to go back... My mother isn't any different... they're both the same. They never cared about what I wanted. They caged me inside that house... homeschooled me until I was old enough to fight for the chance to live like a normal teenager... They thought outside influence would be bad for me... that I'd become a disappointment."

Seungmin explained everything while holding Chan's hand tightly.

"That's why they forced me to marry my ex-wife. I was only twenty... She wasn't any different. She hated that place too... and that's why, when Hyun was born... she left. She told me my parents were manipulative and controlling... and that she wasn't ready to raise a child..."

"I never stepped foot inside that house again after that. I ran away because I didn't want Hyun to grow up in the same environment as me... I wanted to give him something much better... because he deserves that care. Hyun is my only reason to keep going... but my parents still keep forcing me to come back so they can cage Hyun too... because they think I'll make him a disappointment, just like me."

Something inside Seungmin broke.

He buried his face in his hands.

And then Chan heard it.

A sniffle.

Then another.

And then...

A full sob.

Seungmin cried.

Chan's hands moved instinctively. He wrapped his arms around him and pulled Seungmin into a hug.

He let him cry.

Seungmin cried for a long while before lowering his hands from his face to look at Chan.

His eyes were red and swollen.

"I'm such a mess... aren't I?" Seungmin managed a weak chuckle.

Chan's expression softened.

"No. You're strong. And you're brave."

"Sometimes... I just... I don't know what to do. I'm scared..." A tear slipped down his cheek. "What if one day Seunghyun thinks that too... that his father is a disappointment?"

"You're a perfect father, Seungmin."

Chan gently kissed his temple.

"You don't have to carry it all alone."

Seungmin nodded and buried his face in Chan's shoulder.

He sobbed quietly while Chan gently rubbed circles on his back.

A while later, Seungmin stopped crying.

His physical and mental exhaustion caught up with him, and he fell asleep in Chan's embrace.

Chan carefully laid him down on the couch and covered him with a blanket.

He walked to Seunghyun's room to make sure the little boy was sleeping comfortably.

Then he returned to the living room.

He sat down on the floor, resting his head against the coffee table as he quietly watched Seungmin sleeping peacefully.

His own words echoed through his mind.

"You don't have to carry it all alone."

He doesn't.

Chan wants to be the one to carry it with him.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

The morning light was gentle when Seungmin woke up and quickly noticed the figure sleeping with his head resting on the table.

Chan.

Seungmin quietly covered him with his own blanket. His face looked peaceful.

Too quiet for someone who pretended he wasn't good with words, yet somehow always knew exactly how to comfort someone.

Seungmin looked at him a little longer than he should have.

Realizing he was staring, he quickly made his way to the bathroom.

Breakfast was filled with laughter.

Seunghyun and Chan were laughing together, loud and bright.

Nothing special happened.

But Seungmin caught himself smiling.

His chest felt light compared to the storm of last night.

"You don't have to carry it all alone."

The words echoed in his mind.

Maybe he didn't have to.

Maybe everything was going to be alright.

For the first time, he felt like he didn't have to solve every problem alone.

Because Chan was there for him.

The thought didn't make him uncomfortable.

Instead, it settled inside his chest like something permanent.

Maybe he could rely on someone too.

And that someone was smiling brightly at him.

---

The quiet evening breeze was gentle.

Chan liked the feeling of it.

He felt... light.

There was something peaceful about everything now.

Or maybe it was because something heavy had finally lifted from his chest.

When Chan reached home, he didn't unlock his apartment with his key.

Instead, he walked to apartment 709 and pressed the doorbell.

Since when had this place become his home?

Chan didn't know.

But he did know that it felt more like home than anywhere else.

When the door opened, there was a nervous look on Seungmin's face.

Half hopeful.

Half anxious.

Chan decided it was better to answer with actions rather than words.

Without wasting another second, he stepped forward and hugged him.

Not tightly.

Just a warm embrace that quietly said...

Everything is alright now.

Seungmin returned the hug almost immediately.

Chan could feel him smiling.

He smiled too.

"So... how did it go? Tell me. I've been freaking out since this afternoon," Seungmin said with an awkward chuckle.

Chan pulled away just enough to look at him.

"Better than I thought."

"Oh my God, seriously? See, I told you..." Seungmin said, all his worries disappearing.

Later, Chan sat on a chair, absentmindedly gazing toward Seunghyun's room, where the little boy had already fallen asleep.

He looked up when Seungmin placed a cup of coffee in front of him.

"Thanks," Chan muttered.

Seungmin sat across from him.

Neither of them spoke for a while.

Seungmin didn't pressure Chan to explain everything.

He knew Chan would tell him eventually.

For now, he was simply happy for him.

"I was actually thinking about running away when I got there," Chan finally broke the silence.

Seungmin didn't say anything.

His eyes quietly encouraged Chan to continue.

"The house still looks the same... everything. My mother actually designed it for us. I thought he'd change everything after her death, but he still makes sure her room stays exactly the way she left it. She never liked messy places."

Chan let out a quiet chuckle.

His grip around the mug tightened.

Seungmin noticed the tension immediately

He reached over and gently held Chan's hand, softly stroking it.

"I... I was so wrong. I thought he didn't love me... that he hated me.

"But he didn't.

"He told me he just didn't know how to show his affection.

"He got scared when Mom died. He didn't want me to leave him too...

"But I did anyway.

"He apologized... said it was his fault that he never knew how to express himself."

"But now... I think everything is alright?" Seungmin smiled.

"Yeah..." Chan smiled back.

"It's all because of you. I don't know how to thank you."

"You know you don't have to thank me." Seungmin gently squeezed his hand.

"I'm just glad I could help."

Chan looked at him with a fond smile.

"And I'm glad it was you who helped me."

"You know what he said before I left?" Chan laughed.

"He told me he wanted to see me at the company next week.

"And I know it wasn't a request."

Seungmin burst into laughter.

"He's literally on another level."

"I thought he'd be a little gentler, but shedding a few tears doesn't make him soft," Chan rolled his eyes.

"Maybe that's just his way of showing love," Seungmin chuckled.

"It better be," Chan sighed dramatically.

That night, Chan had the most peaceful sleep of his life.

It felt as though a burden had finally been lifted from his chest.

There were no ugly feelings left.

Only peace.

After the night Seungmin's father came to the apartment, Chan realized something.

His situation wasn't that different.

His father had never truly stopped caring about him.

The realization hit him hard.

Maybe his father's words had been harsh.

But he had never once blamed Chan for his mother's death.

Chan realized he had been ignoring that truth for years.

Talking to Seungmin somehow made everything feel both simpler and more complicated.

Seungmin never told him to go back and reconcile with his father.

He simply told him to give himself a chance.

To give his father a chance to explain the things that had been left unsaid.

Chan wanted...

Needed...

Answers.

He wasn't sure whether meeting his father was the right decision.

But somehow...

Nothing had ever felt more right.

And it turned out...

The old man had been suffering too.

For a very long time.

Chan had been so angry with him.

Yet that anger melted away within minutes.

They had never shared the best relationship.

In fact, they argued more often than they talked.

His mother's death had only widened the distance between them.

His father's nagging never stopped.

But Chan hadn't been in the right state of mind after losing his mother.

Every argument only made things worse.

Eventually, fighting became their routine.

Until Chan believed he couldn't take it anymore.

His father wasn't a bad person.

They were simply two people who were afraid to show each other how much they were hurting.

His father's nagging had been his own clumsy way of telling Chan to keep living.

To move forward.

Chan just hadn't seen it that way.

He finally understood it today.

He had never seen his father cry before.

But seeing his son after such a long time...

Had broken something inside the old man.

It would be a lie to say Chan hadn't become emotional too.

He understood his father.

And he made sure his father understood him too.

They were both miserable.

And they were both the same.

Neither of them had ever been good at expressing themselves.

Chan still loved his mother.

He still missed her every day.

But now...

He had realized that he loved his father too.

And he was glad things had worked out between them.

He wanted them to.

Because someone had once told him-

"If there's still a chance to talk... don't let anger be the last thing you say."

---

The week passed in laughter and sweet moments, and soon came the last day of Chan's unemployment.

His last day as the unemployed, scary neighbour of Apartment 710.

Chan wasn't nervous about tomorrow. Well... maybe a little, but not nearly as much as he had been while getting ready for Seunghyun's school event.

He knew he would manage at the company. It was just... it had been a long time since he'd been there. Almost three years, to be exact.

But after all, there was nothing to worry about. His father would be there too. And he would definitely help his one and only dear son.

Chan slumped down on the couch. He had just come back from the park, and he'd decided to never go back there again. Especially not with Seunghyun and Berry.

The two of them tested his patience, making him run miles just when he'd said it was time to go home. He'd actually had to chase them around before dragging them back to the apartment.

"Tired?" Seungmin asked, handing him a glass of water.

"Very much," Chan replied, gulping it down in one go.

"Guess what happened?" Seungmin said as he sat down beside him.

"What? Tell me," Chan replied eagerly.

"I found a nanny for Seunghyun."

Oh.

Something flickered across Chan's face.

The thing he'd been avoiding for a week suddenly hit him.

If he started going to the company, who would take care of Seunghyun while he was gone?

The thought made him uncomfortable.

He didn't trust anyone with taking care of the boy except himself, Seungmin, and Felix.

His expression hardened.

"Who is it? Have you checked everything? Their background? Experience? Did Seunghyun meet them? Do they even know how to take care of-"

"Chan... Chan, relax." Seungmin patted his shoulder.

"His name is Han Jisung, and he's trustworthy. Actually, Changbin hyung recommended him. He's very friendly, and he used to work part-time at a crèche," Seungmin explained.

A part of him felt strangely touched watching Chan become so protective of Seunghyun.

"Alright. I don't trust that guy, but I trust you," Chan replied after thinking for a moment.

"He'll start tomorrow, since we'll both be at work."

Chan suddenly felt even more nervous.

Turns out his nervousness didn't last only for the evening.

By the next morning..

Chan was mourning.

He wasn't someone who was going to be late on the very first day of his new job.

Chan had worked before at his father's company. Before that, he'd done several internships and part-time jobs just to prove his potential to his father.

Until his enthusiasm left the chat, and Chan found himself living alone with the money he'd saved from those jobs.

Though Chan was pretty sure his father had been quietly supporting him all this time. Otherwise, he would've faced financial problems long ago.

Chan stared at himself in the mirror.

His dark blue tie wasn't perfect.

Fuck.

Chan never liked ties.

He never learned how to tie one.

His mother had always done it for him.

And now he was frustrated that he'd never learned from her.

Sighing, Chan left his apartment and went straight to the person who somehow knew how to solve every problem he had.

Seungmin was setting the table when Chan entered the apartment.

At this point, neither of them even knocked anymore unless the door was locked.

It had become one of those habits that felt too normal to question.

"I can't fix it," Chan mumbled, holding onto his tie.

Seungmin laughed.

Chan looked like a child nervous about his first day of school.

"Eat first. I'll fix it later," Seungmin said as he served Seunghyun breakfast.

Chan quickly sat down.

"Mr. Chan... you won't come to pick me up?" Seunghyun asked, his voice muffled with food.

"Eat first, then speak," Seungmin reminded him.

"I can't, kiddo," Chan replied, his voice suddenly quieter.

"Chan has to help his father, Hyun... shouldn't we encourage him?" Seungmin smiled.

The little boy's eyes sparkled.

"It means Mr. Chan will meet his father! I want to meet him too!"

"I'll take you someday," Chan replied, finally relaxing.

"Yeahhh!"

Seunghyun finished his breakfast and happily ran back to his room.

Chan's expression changed again.

He frowned.

Seungmin noticed immediately.

"If you're worried about Berry, don't be. I've already talked to Jisung. He said he doesn't mind taking care of both Hyun and Berry. He actually lives with his boyfriend's cats."

Chan's frown disappeared instantly.

Instead, a bright smile appeared.

"Thank you."

"Perfect now," Seungmin said as he fixed Chan's tie and straightened his shirt collar.

He stepped back to admire his work.

Chan looked...

Really good.

Seungmin had never seen him dressed so formally before.

Maybe Chan should wear suits more often.

His cheeks slowly turned pink.

Hopefully Chan didn't notice.

"Am I looking okay?" Chan asked while putting on his coat.

"You look good," Seungmin replied.

"Thanks. Oh shit, I'm late. I gotta go."

Chan quickly grabbed his phone and car keys.

He hugged Seunghyun at the doorway and gently patted Berry's head.

Then he turned to leave.

"Wait."

Seungmin stopped him.

"Take this. I packed your lunch."

He held out a lunch bag.

Chan stared at it.

Then looked at Seungmin.

"Thanks."

He smiled.

Without thinking, he leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss against Seungmin's cheek.

"See you this evening. Bye."

Before Seungmin could even react, Chan disappeared toward the elevator.

Seunghyun waved enthusiastically from the doorway.

Seungmin couldn't focus on anything.

He could only feel his face burning.

What just happened?

---

"Good morning, Mr. Bahng."

The elderly man bowed politely.

Mr. Yoon had worked as Chan's father's secretary for over twenty years.

"Good morning to you too, Mr. Yoon," Chan smiled.

"I guess now I know why the Chairman has been in such a good mood lately," Mr. Yoon chuckled.

"Was he? I can't believe it," Chan laughed before walking toward his father's office.

He knocked once before entering.

"I'm glad you came."

His father looked up from the stack of papers on his desk.

Chan snorted.

"As if it wasn't an order."

"Sit."

Chan sat down.

"I've prepared everything for your return. You'll start from the same position you left. But since many things have changed, I want you to learn them first before officially reporting to me."

"Alright. Anything else?" Chan asked while flipping through the documents.

"You'll be working under our Managing Director, Mr. Kim, before you officially begin your duties as Vice President."

His father pressed the intercom and asked Mr. Yoon to call Mr. Kim inside.

Chan was completely focused on the paperwork.

He didn't even notice when the office door opened.

"Vice President Bahng, from today onward, Managing Director Kim will guide you."

Chan turned around.

Then froze.

"Seungmin?"

"Chan?"

Seungmin looked just as surprised.

"Do you know each other?" Chan's father asked, looking between them.

"Yes, we're-"

"Neighbours," Seungmin interrupted.

"And friends," Chan quickly added.

His father looked at them for a long second.

"Good. That'll make things easier."

His serious expression remained unchanged.

Only the tiny smile at the corner of his lips betrayed him.

Later...

Chan and Seungmin found themselves laughing over the coincidence.

It really was funny.

Chan had never bothered asking where Seungmin worked.

And Seungmin had never bothered asking for Chan's full name.

"I didn't know you were the Managing Director here," Chan laughed as they sat inside Seungmin's office.

"And I didn't know you were my boss's son," Seungmin replied, still sounding surprised.

"But I'm glad you work here. It'll make things much easier for me."

"Just admit you didn't want to get stuck with some old manager," Seungmin teased.

"Of course. I don't want to get annoyed on my first day. Half the employees here have known me since I was seven. They still treat me like a child."

That only made Seungmin laugh harder.

Before either of them realized it...

The office became another habit.

Another routine.

Chan worked alongside Seungmin, who patiently guided him through all the changes in the company.

Even at work, none of their habits changed.

Chan always brought Seungmin coffee exactly the way he liked it.

He still walked into Seungmin's office without knocking, just like he walked into Apartment 709.

During lunch, they always ate together, sharing the meals Seungmin packed for both of them every morning.

At first, the employees whispered about them.

Eventually...

Even that became normal.

Watching Chan and Seungmin together simply became part of the office routine.

Chan had to admit...

He'd never been this close to Seungmin before.

They worked together.

Ate together.

Lived side by side.

Every morning they dropped Seunghyun off at school before heading to work.

Every evening they came home together.

Sometimes Chan stayed late to help his father.

Sometimes Seungmin left early because of meetings outside the office.

But no matter what...

They always made sure to let the other know.

---

The apartment was peacefully quiet.

Only the sound of the movie Chan was watching echoed softly through the living room.

He was sitting comfortably on the couch, relaxed.

Seungmin sat beside him, his head resting on Chan's shoulder as he read the book Chan had gifted him for his birthday.

He'd already read it five times.

But something about the fact that Chan had given it to him made him want to read it over and over again.

Today they'd left work a little early.

More accurately, Chan had managed to excuse both of them by saying they had a meeting to attend.

They did attend it.

It just wasn't a very long one.

Afterward, they picked Seunghyun up from school and gave Jisung a half day off.

Who, by the way, was doing an amazing job as Seunghyun's caretaker.

Chan's arm rested comfortably around Seungmin's shoulders.

Seungmin leaned into him just a little more before looking up at Chan's face.

Sometimes he wondered why he felt so comfortable around him.

His mind always gave him the same answer.

Because he's Chan.

Yeah...

It was kind of strange.

Seungmin no longer pretended he didn't admire Chan as more than just a neighbour.

More than just a friend.

Maybe Chan felt the same.

Maybe he didn't.

Seungmin didn't know.

But he was happy with how things were.

Seungmin didn't realize how long he'd been staring until Chan looked back at him.

Neither of them looked away.

It felt like déjà vu.

The same moment when Seungmin had first caught Chan staring at him.

Now...

The roles were reversed.

Chan's gaze slowly drifted from Seungmin's eyes...

...to his lips.

Then back to his eyes again.

Seungmin's heartbeat quickened.

He could feel warmth spreading across his cheeks.

Chan leaned in a little closer.

When Seungmin didn't move...

He leaned in again.

Closer this time.

Then a little more.

Until only inches separated them.

Seungmin let out a shaky breath.

His lips parted slightly.

He slowly closed his eyes.

Okay...

Maybe it was actually happening.

Chan leaned in...

And then-

"Appa!"

Seunghyun's voice echoed through the living room as he walked inside.

Seungmin practically jumped in his seat and quickly moved away from Chan.

Chan coughed awkwardly, covering the lower half of his face.

Seungmin suddenly found the light blue wall incredibly fascinating.

The little boy stopped in front of them.

"Appa, I want ice cream."

"I... I'll go... buy some ice cream," Chan stammered before rushing out of the apartment.

"I... I should clean this... it looks dirty," Seungmin muttered to absolutely no one while staring at the perfectly clean coffee table.

Seunghyun stood there with a confused expression.

He looked at Berry.

Berry barked.

Neither of them understood what had just happened.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

The sky was covered with clouds, but sunlight still peeked through them.

Perfect weather to go out.

Perfect for a date.

Felix grinned at the thought as he pressed the doorbell.

Seungmin opened the door with a look that was half surprised and half amused.

"You guys aren't ready yet?" Felix asked as he took off his shoes.

"It won't take us long. Chan's almost ready too," Seungmin explained, handing him a drink.

"You really didn't have to come just to take care of Berry. I'm sure you have other things to do," Seungmin said with a small frown.

It was strange.

Very strange.

Seunghyun had been whining all week about going out on Sunday. Since he wanted both Chan and Seungmin to come with him, neither of them had the heart to refuse.

But the strange part was...

Felix had volunteered to take care of Berry because they'd be gone the whole day.

Seungmin still couldn't understand it.

Even Chan found it suspicious.

Maybe they were just overthinking.

Yeah...

There couldn't possibly be anything behind Felix's mischievous smile.

Later, when Seungmin was finally ready, he found Seunghyun sitting on the couch while Chan was in the kitchen.

"Hyun, ready to go?" he asked with a smile.

Seunghyun's expression suddenly changed.

He looked at Felix before dramatically holding his stomach.

"Appa... my stomach hurts."

"Oh no," Felix gasped dramatically, pulling the little boy into his arms.

"I guess you can't go with Seungmin today."

Seungmin stood in the hallway.

Not surprised.

He exchanged a look with Chan.

Both of them quietly chuckled at the dramatic performance.

"Appa... I'll stay with Uncle Felix," Seunghyun declared while hugging him.

"I'll take care of Seunghyun and Berry," Felix said, standing up. "You two should leave. You're already late."

Before either of them could protest, Felix practically pushed Chan and Seungmin out of the apartment.

They hugged Seunghyun goodbye and waved.

"Enjoy your date!" Felix grinned before shutting the door.

Silence.

Chan and Seungmin looked at each other.

Both of their faces slowly turned red.

"...Was it planned?" Chan whispered.

"...I think it was," Seungmin sighed.

Neither of them knew what to do.

So...

They simply walked away.

Technically...

It was a date.

One neither of them had planned.

The drive passed in complete silence.

Their first stop was a small restaurant.

Nothing fancy.

Neither of them had properly eaten breakfast because of the morning rush.

Chan decided it was better to fill their stomachs first and think later.

Though the restaurant was small, Seungmin immediately liked it.

It was peaceful.

Not crowded.

They chose a table by the window.

The silence between them felt awkward, and Seungmin was secretly grateful when their food arrived quickly.

As the silence stretched on, Chan finally looked up from the glass in his hands.

"So..."

He cleared his throat.

"Where do you want to go?"

Seungmin laughed.

"I thought you already had a plan. You've been so quiet."

Chan scratched the back of his neck.

"I didn't."

"Neither did I."

So...

They simply walked.

Neither of them knew where they wanted to go.

The awkwardness slowly faded.

They talked about Seunghyun.

About Berry.

About work.

Just like they always did at home.

Chan realized maybe Seungmin had simply been as nervous as he was.

As they passed a music shop, Chan unconsciously slowed down.

Seungmin noticed.

"Wanna go inside?" he asked.

Chan's sparkling eyes answered before his mouth could.

Seungmin smiled and walked in.

Chan followed happily.

They wandered between rows of guitars, pianos, and violins.

Chan carefully picked up a guitar.

His fingers gently brushed across the strings.

He didn't play.

He simply remembered what it felt like.

"You know how to play?" Seungmin asked.

"Kinda."

Chan smiled softly.

"I miss this."

The shop owner kindly let Chan play for a minute.

Seungmin simply stood there...

Watching him.

When they left the shop, Seungmin couldn't help smiling.

It felt nice learning something new about Chan.

Their next stop happened by complete accident.

A pottery workshop.

"We're going in," Seungmin announced.

Chan immediately shook his head.

"No."

Seungmin grabbed his wrist and dragged him inside anyway.

Chan regretted agreeing the moment he put on the bright pink apron.

"You look cute," Seungmin laughed.

Chan somehow managed to create the ugliest bowl imaginable.

He'd known from the beginning he had absolutely no talent.

Seungmin laughed so hard it echoed through the workshop.

Chan looked over.

Seungmin was completely focused on making a pot.

A mischievous smile appeared on Chan's face.

One minute later...

He successfully ruined Seungmin's masterpiece.

"Chan!!"

Seungmin sounded like he'd just witnessed the end of the world.

"You laughed first."

Chan shrugged innocently.

Seungmin grabbed a lump of clay and threw it at him.

Chan dodged it easily.

Then laughed even louder.

The workshop staff exchanged tired glances.

Questioning every life decision that had led them to this moment.

A few minutes later...

The staff politely suggested they continue their date somewhere else.

They laughed about it for the next ten minutes.

By evening, they found themselves wandering between food stalls.

Seungmin bought tteokbokki.

Chan bought fish cakes.

"Want some?" Seungmin asked.

Chan opened his mouth.

Without thinking, Seungmin fed him.

Chan's eyes widened.

"It's so good."

He quickly swallowed.

"Give me another one."

"No."

Seungmin immediately refused.

Chan simply stole one anyway.

Laughing as Seungmin scolded him.

Later, at Seungmin's suggestion, they walked through the park.

The sun had already set.

The sky was painted in shades of purple and grey.

They walked side by side.

The park was almost empty.

Only the quiet rustling of autumn leaves surrounded them.

It felt...

Peaceful.

Chan breathed in the cool evening air.

His shoulder brushed against Seungmin's.

Neither of them moved away.

They didn't need words.

As they walked beneath a large tree, Chan quietly smiled.

"It's been a long time since I've felt like this."

"Like what?" Seungmin asked softly.

"Peaceful."

Silence settled between them once more.

Then Chan spoke again.

"Thank you."

Seungmin smiled.

"You don't have to thank me."

Chan stopped walking.

"I do."

"For a lot of things."

"Stop giving me so much credit."

Seungmin laughed quietly.

"I'm not that great."

"You're perfect in my eyes."

Seungmin's breath caught.

Chan stepped closer.

His hand gently cupped Seungmin's cheek.

He leaned in...

And pressed a soft kiss against Seungmin's temple.

"You'll always be perfect in my eyes," Chan whispered.

Seungmin's eyes turned glassy.

"And that's why I adore you so much."

This time...

Chan kissed him.

Softly.

Gently.

Seungmin smiled into the kiss before slowly closing his eyes.

The wind swept through the trees above them.

Golden leaves drifted around them like quiet blessings.

Neither of them moved.

There was only warmth.

Comfort.

And the feeling of finally being home.

When they finally pulled away...

Both of them were smiling like complete idiots.

By the time they reached the apartment building, it was already past seven.

Chan and Seungmin walked side by side.

Their hands intertwined.

They hadn't forgotten to buy Seunghyun's favorite ice cream.

That was something they could never forget.

Felix opened the door.

He immediately placed a finger over his lips.

"Shh..."

He pointed toward the couch.

Seunghyun was fast asleep, hugging Berry.

The sight was so adorable that both of them smiled.

Felix's eyes dropped to their intertwined hands.

"So..."

He grinned.

"Enjoy your date?"

Before either of them could answer, Felix walked away laughing.

Chan and Seungmin exchanged a knowing look.

Then...

They smiled.

---

The day had been exhausting, especially for Chan. He'd had to stay late to help out his father.

He could say their relationship was getting better since he'd started working again. Though his father always maintained a cold expression, sometimes even his mask slipped, and Chan could catch a proud look or a small smile on his face.

Chan smiled as he pressed the doorbell of his home.

Home.

The word sounded sweet on his tongue.

Chan had never truly known what home meant. It had always been just himself, alone in a house where he often felt like a stranger.

The word had always felt like a dream to him.

The door opened, and Seunghyun's smile widened the moment he saw him.

"Mr. Chan!"

The little boy threw himself into Chan's arms.

Berry came running right after him, almost tackling him to the floor. Chan laughed.

Maybe it was those wide smiles.

The tiny footsteps of Seunghyun...

Berry's paws padding across the wooden floor...

Maybe it was the laughter that made him feel alive.

Maybe it was the clatter of pots from the kitchen whenever Seungmin cooked.

Nothing extraordinary.

Just the ordinary little things that made him feel alive.

The ordinary things that made him long to come back every single day.

Seungmin turned from the kitchen and smiled.

"You're home."

Chan smiled back.

This...

This was the sound of coming home.

The End